Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "He who recites after every Salah: Subhan-Allah (Allah is free from imperfection) thirty-three times; Al Hamdulillah (praise be to Allah) thirty-three times; Allahu Akbar (Allah is Greatest) thirty-three times; and completes the hundred with: La ilaha illallahu, Wahdahu La Sharika Lahu, lahul-Mulku Wa Lahul-Hamdu, Wa Huwa `Ala kulli shay'in Qadir (there is no true god except Allah. He is One and He has no partner with Him. His is the sovereignty and His is the praise, and He is Omnipotent), will have all his sins pardoned even if they may be as large as the foam on the surface of the sea." [Sahih Muslim, No. 597].

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: "Some poor people came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said: The wealthy people will get higher grades and will have permanent enjoyment and they pray like us and fast as we do. They have more money by which they perform the Hajj, and ‘Umra; fight and struggle in Allah’s Cause and give in charity. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Shall I not tell you a thing upon which if you acted you would catch up with those who have surpassed you? Nobody would overtake you and you would be better than the people amongst whom you live except those who would do the same. Say “Subhan-Allah”, “Al Hamdulillah” and “Allahu Akbar” thirty three times each after every (compulsory) prayer.” We differed and some of us said that we should say, “Subhan-Allah” thirty three times and “Al Hamdulillah” thirty three times and “Allahu Akbar” thirty four times. I went to the Prophet (peace be upon him) who said: “Say: “Subhan-Allah” and “Al Hamdulillah” and “Allahu Akbar” all together for thirty three times.” [Sahih Al Bukhari: No. 843 and Sahih Muslim, No. 595].

Abu Salih (one of the narrators of the Hadith) said: A person should say "Subhan-Allah" and "Al Hamdulillah" and "Allahu Akbar" all together thirty three times. However, this is his understanding to the Hadith, but the most correct is: Each statement should be repeated thirty three times as reported in the Hadith of Abu Hurayrah. [See: Fathul-Bary of Ibn Hajar (2/328)].

`Abdullah ibn `Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "There are two qualities or characteristics which if a Muslim adopted, he shall enter Paradise. They are easy, but those who act upon them are few. One should say: "Subhan Allah [i.e., Glory be to Allah]" ten times after each Salah, "Al Hamdulillah [i.e., Praise be to Allah]" ten times and "Allahu Akbar [i.e., Allah is the Greatest]" ten times. These are one hundred and fifty by the tongue [5 Salah multiplied by 30 glorifications], but they are one thousand and five hundred by the scale of good deeds. When a person goes to bed, he should say: "Allahu Akbar" thirty-four times, "Al Hamdulillah" thirty-three times, and "Subhan-Allah" thirty-three times, for that is a hundred by the tongue and one thousand on the scale of good deeds. (He said:) I saw the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) counting them on his hand. The people asked: O Messenger of Allah, how could be that they are easy but those who act upon them are few? He replied: The Devil comes to one of you when he goes to bed and he makes him sleep before he utters them, and he comes to him while he is engaged in Salah and reminds him of a need before he utters them." [Reported by Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhy: Sunan Abu Dawud, No. 565 and Sunan At-Tirmidhy, No. 3410. Al Albany (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) graded it as authentic in Sahih At-Targhib, No. 606].

It is desirable for a Muslim to recite after each Salah (Surat As-Samad), (Surat Al Falaq), and (Surat An-Nas). `Uqbah ibn `Amir (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) commanded me to recite Al Mu`awwidhat following each Salah." [Reported by Abu Dawud and An-Nasa'y: Abu Dawud, No. 1523 and Sunan An-Nasa'y, No. 1336. Al Albany (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) graded it as authentic in Sahih Abu Dawud, No. 1348].

The meaning of Al Mu`awwidhat is those three Surahs. [See: Fathul-Bary of Ibn Hajar (8/132)].

A person should recite Ayatul-Kursy [Ayah 255 of Surat Al Baqarah] because of the Hadith of Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever recites Ayatul-Kursy after each obligatory Salah nothing stops him from entering Paradise but to die." [Reported by An-Nasa'y in `Amal Al Yawm wal-Laylah, No. 100, and Al Albany (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) graded it as authentic in Sahih Al Jami`, No. 6464].

The meaning of "nothing stops him from entering Paradise but to die," is when a person dies, he shall enter Paradise.

Ibn Al Qayyim (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) said: "It was reported to me from our Shaykh Abu Al `Abbas Ibn Taymiyah that he said: I have never abandoned them after each Salah." [Zad Al Ma`ad: 1/304].

It is permissible for a Muslim to say after each Salah the advice of the Prophet (peace be upon him) to Mu`adh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him): The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) took hold of my hand and said: "O Mu`adh! By Allah I love you, so I advise you to never forget to recite after every prayer: "Allahumma A`inny `Ala Dhikrika, Wa Shukrika, Wa Husni `Ibadatika (O Allah, help me remember You, to be grateful to You, and to worship You in an excellent manner)." [Sunan Abu Dawud: No. 1523 and Sunan An-Nasa'y: No. 1303. Al Albany (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) graded it as authentic in Sahih Abu Dawud: No. 1347].

There are two views whether this invocation is said before or after the end of Salah, however Shaykh Al Islam chose that the invocation is said before Salam. And Allah knows the best!

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