(24) باب التَّسْبِيحِ بِالْحَصَى
Narrated Sa'd ibn AbuWaqqas:
Once Sa'd, with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), visited a woman in front of whom were some date-stones or pebbles which she was using as a rosary to glorify Allah. He (the Prophet) said: I tell you something which would be easier (or more excellent) for you than that. He said (it consisted of saying): "Glory be to Allah" as many times as the number of that which He has created in Heaven; "Glory be to Allah" as many times as the number of that which He has created on Earth; "Glory be to Allah" as many times as the number of that which He has created between them; "Glory be to Allah" as many times as the number of that which He is creating; "Allah is most great" a similar number of times; "Praise (be to Allah)" a similar number of times; and "There is no god but Allah" a similar number of times; "There is no might and no power except in Allah" a similar number of times. (ES)
Reference (ES): Sunan Abi Dawud 1500 (ES)
In-book reference (ES): Book 8, Hadith 85 (ES)
English translation (ES): Book 8, Hadith 1495 (ES)