Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Shall I not tell you of something by which you will attain the rank of those who came before you, and those who come after you will not be able to catch up with you, and you will be the best among all the people of your time, except for the one who does the same as you? (That deed is) that you say «سبحان اللہ », «الحمد للہ», and « اللہ اکبر» thirty-three times after every prayer." This hadith is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah, Sayyiduna Abu Dharr, Sayyiduna Abu Darda, Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas, and Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them). The hadith of Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him), which Abu Salih narrated, is as follows: The poor people came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said, "The wealthy have taken all the high ranks and everlasting blessings. They pray as we pray, and they fast as we fast, but they have more virtue due to their wealth; they perform Hajj, Umrah, Jihad, and give charity." The narrator says: (the above hadith was mentioned). (Regarding the number of tasbihat) we differed; some said to say «سبحان اللہ » thirty-three times, «الحمد للہ» thirty-three times, and «اللہ اکبر» thirty-four times (and some said something else). I went to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and mentioned the whole matter, and he said: "Say each of «سبحان اللہ », «الحمد للہ», and «اللہ اکبر» thirty-three times."