Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Murrah narrates that Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Whoever among you is unable to strive against the enemy, cannot endure hardship at night, and due to miserliness cannot spend wealth, then he should frequently recite these words: Allah is free from all defects, and all praise is for Allah, and there is no deity except Allah, and Allah is the Greatest.

Hazrat Murriq Ajli narrates that Hazrat Ubaid bin Umair said: If you are unable to endure the hardship of standing at night (in worship), and striving against the enemy, and spending wealth, then frequently recite these words: Allah is free from all defects, and all praise is for Allah, and there is no deity except Allah, and Allah is the Greatest. These words, in my view, are more beloved than mountains of gold and silver.

Hazrat Awam says that I heard Ibrahim al-Taimi saying: When a servant says, "All praise is for Allah, and Allah is free from all defects," the angels say: "And along with His praise." Then when the servant says, "Allah is free from all defects and is with His praise," the angels say: "May Allah have mercy on you." Then when the servant says, "Allah is the Greatest," the angels say: "Very great." Then when the servant says, "Allah is greater than all," the angels say: "May Allah have mercy on you." Then when the servant says, "All praise is for Allah," the angels say: "The Lord of all the worlds as well." And when the servant says, "The Lord of all the worlds as well," the angels say: "May Allah have mercy on you."

Hasan narrates that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said to Abu Bakr: "Shall I not guide you to such a charity that fills the heavens and the earth with reward? 'Allah is free from all defects, and all praise is for Allah. And there is no deity except Allah. And Allah is the Greatest. There is no power to avoid sins and no strength to do good except with Allah's help.' Reciting these words thirty times during the day fills the heavens and the earth with reward."

Hazrat Khalid bin Abi Imran narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Hold on to your shields. The companions asked: O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)! Against which present enemy? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: No, rather to protect yourselves from Hell. We asked: What is the shield that protects from Hell? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Allah is free from all defects, and all praise is for Allah, and there is no deity except Allah, and Allah is the Greatest, and there is no power to avoid sins nor strength to do good except with Allah’s help. So these words will come on the Day of Judgment at the front and at the back, and they will be protective. So these words are lasting and good. (And they are the enduring good deeds.)

Hazrat Saeed bin Jubair narrates that Hazrat Umar bin Khattab saw a person who was reciting various tasbeehat. So Hazrat Umar said: May Allah have mercy on him. Surely, it is sufficient for him to say: "Allah is Pure, to the extent of the filling of the heavens and the earth and whatever else He wills after that." And to say: "All praise is for Allah, to the extent of the filling of the heavens and the earth and whatever else He wills after that." And to say: "Allah is the Greatest, to the extent of the filling of the heavens and the earth and whatever else He wills after that."

Hazrat Abdul Malik bin Maisarah narrates that Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood (may Allah be pleased with him) and Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) gathered together. Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I recite these words whenever I set out until I reach my destination: "Allah is free from all defects, and all praise is for Allah, and there is no deity except Allah, and Allah is the Greatest." To me, these words are more beloved than riding as many horses and riders in the path of Allah as their number. And Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: To me, reciting these words is more beloved than spending as many dinars in the path of Allah as their number.