Allahu Akbar — Meaning and How to Recite It

When to recite it

• As the closing phrase of the tasbih after salah, thirty-four times in the narration that completes one hundred.
• At the opening of the prayer, and whenever you need to put a worry back in proportion.

Meaning and practice

Allahu Akbar means Allah is greater than whatever is being compared with Him, whether that is named or left unspoken. In dhikr it pulls attention off the size of a problem and back to the size of the One being remembered.

Some reports of the after-prayer tasbih give thirty-three for each of the three phrases. Another gives thirty-four takbirs so the total reaches one hundred. Tasbih Hub's guided routine uses three, then thirty-three, thirty-three, and thirty-four, which is a sound and widely taught form.

Say it with a still tongue and a clear count. The counter's target marker is there so you can stop at the reported number without watching a second screen.

Source note: Sahih Muslim, completing one hundred after the prayer. Recommended count: 34.

Frequently asked questions