Let me guide you to something better than what you asked for. When you go to bed, say ‘Subhān Allah' (glory be to Allah) thirty-three times, ‘Alhamdulillāh' (praise be to Allah) thirty-three times, and ‘Allāhu Akbar' (Allah is the Most Great) thirty-four times. This is better for you than a servant

Explanation

Fātimah (may Allah be pleased with her), the Prophet's daughter, complained about the effect of the grinding-stone on her hand. When captives were brought to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), she rushed to ask him for a servant from these captives so as to do the household chores on her behalf. She, however, did not find him and found ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her). She told her about the matter. When he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) came, ‘Ā’ishah told him that Fātimah had come to ask him for a servant. So, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) came to Fātimah and ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with both of them) at their house while they were in bed, preparing to sleep. He sat down between them, and ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) felt the coldness of the Prophet's feet on his belly. He said: Shall I teach you something better than what you have asked me for giving you a servant? They replied in the affirmative. So, he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: When you go to bed for sleep in the night, say Takbīr thirty-four times: Allāhu Akbar. Glorify Allah thirty-three times, saying: Subhān Allah. And praise Allah thirty-three times, saying: Alhamdulillāh. This Dhikr is better for you than having a servant.

Benefits

• It is recommended to say this blessed Dhikr, as ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) is reported to have adhered to this Prophetic instruction till the night of the battle of Siffīn.
• This Dhikr should only be said during the night, and its wording in the version by Muslim, related by Mu‘ādh from Shu‘bah, reads: "When you two go to bed at night."
• If a Muslim forgets to say this Dhikr in the early part of the night and then remembers it in the latter part, there is nothing wrong with saying it, as ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), who reported the Hadīth, said that he forgot to say it in the early part of the night of the battle of Siffīn and then remembered it before dawn and said it.
• Al-Muhallab said: It indicates that a person may force his family as he forces himself to prefer the Hereafter over worldly life, if this is within their capacity.
• Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalāni said: If a person says it persistently, he will not be troubled by much work and it will not be difficult for him, even if he feels tired.
• Al-‘Ayni said: The reason for being better is either that the intended purpose is for them to be attached to the Hereafter, whereas the servant is related to worldly life, and the Hereafter is better and longer lasting; or the intended purpose, as far as her request is concerned, is that she obtains ability through these Dhikrs that enables her to do the service more than a servant can do.