It is narrated from Sayyidah Safiyyah (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) came to me while four thousand date stones lay before me with which I was glorifying Allah. He (peace and blessings be upon him) asked: "O daughter of Huyayy, what is this?" I said: I am glorifying Allah with them. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Since I came and stood by you, I have glorified Allah more than this." I said: O Messenger of Allah, teach me as well. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Say: 'Subhan Allahi 'adada ma khalaqa min shay'in' (Glory be to Allah, as many times as the number of everything He has created)." This hadith has a sahih (authentic) chain, but the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim) did not record it, and there is also a supporting narration (shahid) for it in a hadith of the Egyptian narrators whose chain is even more sahih than this one.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him) that he went with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to a woman before whom lay date stones or pebbles with which she was glorifying Allah. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Shall I not tell you of something that is easier for you than this and more excellent? Say: 'Subhan Allahi 'adada ma khalaqa fi al-sama', Subhan Allahi 'adada ma khalaqa fi al-ard, Subhan Allahi 'adada ma bayna dhalik, wa Subhan Allahi 'adada ma huwa khaliq, Allahu Akbar mithla dhalik, wal-hamdu lillahi mithla dhalik, wa la ilaha illa Allahu mithla dhalik, wa la quwwata illa billahi mithla dhalik' (Glory be to Allah as many times as the number of what He has created in the heaven; glory be to Allah as many times as the number of what He has created on the earth; glory be to Allah as many times as the number of what is between them; and glory be to Allah as many times as the number of all that He is the Creator of; and the greatness of Allah (Allahu Akbar) is likewise; the praise of Allah (Alhamdu lillah) is likewise; the Oneness of Allah (La ilaha illa Allah) is likewise; and the power to avoid sins and do good (La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah) is likewise)."