Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Sa’ib narrates that Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) came to Hazrat Fatimah al-Zahra (may Allah be pleased with her) and said: “My chest is aching because of drawing water from the well.” So Hazrat Fatimah al-Zahra replied: “By Allah! My hands also remain in pain because of grinding the mill.” Then Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said to her: “Go to the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), for indeed a few slaves have come to him. Go to him, perhaps he will grant you a servant for help.” Then both of them went to the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). When they arrived, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Have you both come to me so that I may grant you a servant for help? Surely, I will soon tell you something that is better for you than a servant. And if you wish, I will tell you something that is better for you than a servant: After every prayer and when you lie down at night on your bed, say Subhan Allah thirty-three (33) times, Alhamdulillah thirty-three (33) times, and Allahu Akbar thirty-four (34) times, so that they become a complete hundred (100).” Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) says: “I do not remember ever abandoning these words after that.” Upon this, Abdullah bin al-Kawwa’ asked: “Not even on the night of the Battle of Siffin?” So Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) replied: “O people of Iraq! May Allah destroy you, not even on the night of the Battle of Siffin.”