Fatima complained about the blisters on her hand because of using a mill-stone. She went to ask the Prophet for servant, but she did not find him (at home) and had to inform ʿAisha of her need. When he came, ʿAisha informed him about it. ʿAli added: The Prophet ﷺ came to us when we had gone to our beds. When I was going to get up, he said, "'Stay in your places," and sat between us, till I felt the coolness of the feet on my chest. The Prophet ﷺ then said, "Shall I not tell you of a thing which is better for you than a servant? When you (both) go to your beds, say 'Allahu Akbar' thirty-three times, and 'Subhan Allah' thirty-three times, 'Al hamdu 'illah' thirty-three times, for that is better for you than a servant." Ibn Seereen said, "Subhan Allah' (is to be said for) thirty-four times."  

أَنَّ فَاطِمَةَ عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلاَمُ شَكَتْ مَا تَلْقَى فِي يَدِهَا مِنَ الرَّحَى فَأَتَتِ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ تَسْأَلُهُ خَادِمًا فَلَمْ تَجِدْهُ فَذَكَرَتْ ذَلِكَ لِعَائِشَةَ فَلَمَّا جَاءَ أَخْبَرَتْهُ قَالَ فَجَاءَنَا وَقَدْ أَخَذْنَا مَضَاجِعَنَا فَذَهَبْتُ أَقُومُ فَقَالَ مَكَانَكِ فَجَلَسَ بَيْنَنَا حَتَّى وَجَدْتُ بَرْدَ قَدَمَيْهِ عَلَى صَدْرِي فَقَالَ أَلاَ أَدُلُّكُمَا عَلَى مَا هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمَا مِنْ خَادِمٍ إِذَا أَوَيْتُمَا إِلَى فِرَاشِكُمَا أَوْ أَخَذْتُمَا مَضَاجِعَكُمَا فَكَبِّرَا ثَلاَثًا وَثَلاَثِينَ وَسَبِّحَا ثَلاَثًا وَثَلاَثِينَ وَاحْمَدَا ثَلاَثًا وَثَلاَثِينَ فَهَذَا خَيْرٌ لَكُمَا مِنْ خَادِمٍ وَعَنْ شُعْبَةَ عَنْ خَالِدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ سِيرِينَ قَالَ التَّسْبِيحُ أَرْبَعٌ وَثَلاَثُونَ  

˹Ali said:˺ Fatimah complained of the ˹suffering˺ caused to her by ˹excessive use of˺ the hand mill. ˹Since˺ some captives were brought to the Prophet ﷺ, she came to him but did not find him. However, she found Aishah and then told her ˹about her need for some help˺. When the Prophet ﷺ came, Aishah informed him about Fatimah's visit. So the Prophet ﷺ came to us, while we had gone to bed I wanted to get up but the Prophet ﷺ said: "˹You may˺ stay as you are." Then he sat down between us till I found the coolness of his feet on my chest. Then he said, "Shall I not teach you a thing which is better than what you have asked me? When you go to bed, say:

'Allāhu akbar' thirty-four times, and 'subḥān Allāh' thirty-three times, and 'al-ḥamdu lillāh' thirty-three times

for that is better for you both than a servant."  

أَنَّ فَاطِمَةَ عَلَيْهَا السَّلاَمُ شَكَتْ مَا تَلْقَى مِنْ أَثَرِ الرَّحَا۔ فَأَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ سَبْىٌ، فَانْطَلَقَتْ فَلَمْ تَجِدْهُ۔ فَوَجَدَتْ عَائِشَةَ فَأَخْبَرَتْهَا۔ فَلَمَّا جَاءَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَخْبَرَتْهُ عَائِشَةُ بِمَجِيءِ فَاطِمَةَ۔ فَجَاءَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ إِلَيْنَا وَقَدْ أَخَذْنَا مَضَاجِعَنَا۔ فَذَهَبْتُ لأَقُومَ فَقَالَ: «عَلَى مَكَانِكُمَا۔» فَقَعَدَ بَيْنَنَا حَتَّى وَجَدْتُ بَرْدَ قَدَمَيْهِ عَلَى صَدْرِي، وَقَالَ: «أَلاَ أُعَلِّمُكُمَا خَيْرًا مِمَّا سَأَلْتُمَانِي؟ إِذَا أَخَذْتُمَا مَضَاجِعَكُمَا:

تُكَبِّرَا أَرْبَعًا وَثَلاَثِينَ، وَتُسَبِّحَا ثَلاَثًا وَثَلاَثِينَ، وَتَحْمَدَا ثَلاَثَةً وَثَلاَثِينَ،

فَهْوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمَا مِنْ خَادِمٍ۔»  

Fatima went to the Prophet ﷺ complaining about the bad effect of the stone hand-mill on her hand. She heard that the Prophet ﷺ had received a few slave girls. But (when she came there) she did not find him, so she mentioned her problem to ʿAisha. When the Prophet ﷺ came, ʿAisha informed him about that. ʿAli added, "So the Prophet ﷺ came to us when we had gone to bed. We wanted to get up (on his arrival) but he said, 'Stay where you are." Then he came and sat between me and her and I felt the coldness of his feet on my ʿAbdomen. He said, "Shall I direct you to something better than what you have requested? When you go to bed say 'Subhan Allah' thirty-three times, 'Al hamduli l-lah' thirty three times, and Allahu Akbar' thirty four times, for that is better for you than a servant."  

أَنَّ فَاطِمَةَ عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلاَمُ أَتَتِ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ تَشْكُو إِلَيْهِ مَا تَلْقَى فِي يَدِهَا مِنَ الرَّحَى وَبَلَغَهَا أَنَّهُ جَاءَهُ رَقِيقٌ فَلَمْ تُصَادِفْهُ فَذَكَرَتْ ذَلِكَ لِعَائِشَةَ فَلَمَّا جَاءَ أَخْبَرَتْهُ عَائِشَةُ قَالَ فَجَاءَنَا وَقَدْ أَخَذْنَا مَضَاجِعَنَا فَذَهَبْنَا نَقُومُ فَقَالَ عَلَى مَكَانِكُمَا فَجَاءَ فَقَعَدَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَهَا حَتَّى وَجَدْتُ بَرْدَ قَدَمَيْهِ عَلَى بَطْنِي فَقَالَ أَلاَ أَدُلُّكُمَا عَلَى خَيْرٍ مِمَّا سَأَلْتُمَا إِذَا أَخَذْتُمَا مَضَاجِعَكُمَا أَوْ أَوَيْتُمَا إِلَى فِرَاشِكُمَا فَسَبِّحَا ثَلاَثًا وَثَلاَثِينَ وَاحْمَدَا ثَلاَثًا وَثَلاَثِينَ وَكَبِّرَا أَرْبَعًا وَثَلاَثِينَ فَهْوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمَا مِنْ خَادِمٍ  

We tried to stand up (as a mark of respect) but Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Keep to your beds, and he sat amongst us and I felt the coldness of his feet upon my chest. He then said: May I not direct you to something better than what you have asked for? When you go to your bed, you should recite Takbir (Allah-o-Akbar) thirty-four times and Tasbih (Subhan Allah) thirty-three times and Tahmid (al-Hamdu li-Allah) thirty-three times, and that is better than the servant for you.  

أَنَّ فَاطِمَةَ اشْتَكَتْ مَا تَلْقَى مِنَ الرَّحَى فِي يَدِهَا وَأَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ سَبْىٌ فَانْطَلَقَتْ فَلَمْ تَجِدْهُ وَلَقِيَتْ عَائِشَةَ فَأَخْبَرَتْهَا فَلَمَّا جَاءَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَخْبَرَتْهُ عَائِشَةُ بِمَجِيءِ فَاطِمَةَ إِلَيْهَا فَجَاءَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ إِلَيْنَا وَقَدْ أَخَذْنَا مَضَاجِعَنَا فَذَهَبْنَا نَقُومُ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ عَلَى مَكَانِكُمَا فَقَعَدَ بَيْنَنَا حَتَّى وَجَدْتُ بَرْدَ قَدَمِهِ عَلَى صَدْرِي ثُمَّ قَالَ أَلاَ أُعَلِّمُكُمَا خَيْرًا مِمَّا سَأَلْتُمَا إِذَا أَخَذْتُمَا مَضَاجِعَكُمَا أَنْ تُكَبِّرَا اللَّهَ أَرْبَعًا وَثَلاَثِينَ وَتُسَبِّحَاهُ ثَلاَثًا وَثَلاَثِينَ وَتَحْمَدَاهُ ثَلاَثًا وَثَلاَثِينَ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمَا مِنْ خَادِمٍ  

Fatimah complained to the Prophet (May peace be upon him) of the effect of the grinding stone on her hand. Then some slaves (prisoners of war) were brought to him. So she went to him to ask for (one of) them, but she did not find him. She mentioned the matter to ‘A’ishah. When the prophet (May peace be upon him) came, she informed him. He (the prophet) visited us (Ali) when we had gone to bed, and when we were about to get up, he said: stay where you are. He then came and sat down between us (her and me), and I felt the coldness of his feet on my chest. He then said; “Let me guide to something better than what you have asked. When you go bed, say: Glory be to Allah” thirty-three times.”Praise be to Allah” thirty-three times, and “ Allah is most Great” thirty-four times. That will be better for you than a servant.  

شَكَتْ فَاطِمَةُ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ مَا تَلْقَى فِي يَدِهَا مِنَ الرَّحَى فَأُتِيَ بِسَبْىٍ فَأَتَتْهُ تَسْأَلُهُ فَلَمْ تَرَهُ فَأَخْبَرَتْ بِذَلِكَ عَائِشَةَ فَلَمَّا جَاءَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَخْبَرَتْهُ فَأَتَانَا وَقَدْ أَخَذْنَا مَضَاجِعَنَا فَذَهَبْنَا لِنَقُومَ فَقَالَ عَلَى مَكَانِكُمَا فَجَاءَ فَقَعَدَ بَيْنَنَا حَتَّى وَجَدْتُ بَرْدَ قَدَمَيْهِ عَلَى صَدْرِي فَقَالَ أَلاَ أَدُلُّكُمَا عَلَى خَيْرٍ مِمَّا سَأَلْتُمَا إِذَا أَخَذْتُمَا مَضَاجِعَكُمَا فَسَبِّحَا ثَلاَثًا وَثَلاَثِينَ وَاحْمَدَا ثَلاَثًا وَثَلاَثِينَ وَكَبِّرَا أَرْبَعًا وَثَلاَثِينَ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمَا مِنْ خَادِمٍ  

“Fatimah complained to me about her hands blistering from grinding flour. So I said: ‘If you were to approach your father and ask him for a servant?’ So he (the Prophet) said: ‘Should I not direct the two of you, to that which is better for you than a servant? When the two of you lay down to sleep, say thirty-three, thirty-three, thirty-four, of At-Taḥmīd, At-Tasbīḥ, and At-Takbīr.”  

شَكَتْ إِلَىَّ فَاطِمَةُ مَجَلَ يَدَيْهَا مِنَ الطَّحِينِ فَقُلْتُ لَوْ أَتَيْتِ أَبَاكِ فَسَأَلْتِيهِ خَادِمًا فَقَالَ أَلاَ أَدُلُّكُمَا عَلَى مَا هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمَا مِنَ الْخَادِمِ إِذَا أَخَذْتُمَا مَضْجَعَكُمَا تَقُولاَنِ ثَلاَثًا وَثَلاَثِينَ وَثَلاَثًا وَثَلاَثِينَ وَأَرْبَعًا وَثَلاَثِينَ مِنْ تَحْمِيدٍ وَتَسْبِيحٍ وَتَكْبِيرٍ وَفِي الْحَدِيثِ قِصَّةٌ  

Fāṭimah complained to the Prophet ﷺ about the effects of grinding flour on her hands. The Prophet ﷺ had some captives brought to him, and she went to ask him for a servant but did not find him at home. When she returned, the Prophet ﷺ came to us while we had already gone to bed. He said, "Shall I not direct you to something better than having a servant? When you go to bed, say subḥān Allāh (Glory be to Allah) thirty-three times, al-ḥamdu lillāh (Praise be to Allah) thirty-three times, and Allāhu akbar (Allah is the Greatest) thirty-four times."  

أَنَّ فَاطِمَةَ شَكَتْ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أَثَرَ الْعَجِينِ فِي يَدِهَا فَأَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ سَبْيٌ فَأَتَتْهُ تَسْأَلُهُ خَادِمًا فَلَمْ تَجِدْهُ فَرَجَعَتْ قَالَ فَأَتَانَا وَقَدْ أَخَذْنَا مَضَاجِعَنَا قَالَ فَذَهَبْتُ لِأَقُومَ فَقَالَ مَكَانَكُمَا فَجَاءَ حَتَّى جَلَسَ حَتَّى وَجَدْتُ بَرْدَ قَدَمَيْهِ فَقَالَ أَلا أَدُلُّكُمَا عَلَى مَا هُوَخَيْرٌ لَكُمَا مِنْ خَادِمٍ؟ إِذَا أَخَذْتُمَا مَضْجَعَكُمَا سَبَّحْتُمَا اللهَ ثَلاثًا وَثَلاثِينَ وَحَمِدْتُمَاهُ ثَلاثًا وَثَلاثِينَ وَكَبَّرْتُمَاهُ أَرْبَعًا وَثَلاثِينَ  

I heard ibn Abu laila [say]: ʿAli told us that Fatimah ؓ complained about the marks of the millstone on her hand. Some captives were brought to the Prophet ﷺ, so she went but did not find him. She met ʿAʿishah ؓ and told her (why she had come). When the Prophet ﷺ came, ʿAʿishah ؓ told him that Fatimah had come to her. The Prophet ﷺ came when we had gone to bed. We went to get up, but the Prophet ﷺ said: “Stay where you are.” He sat between us and I felt the coolness of his feet on my chest. He said: ʿShall I not tell you of something that is better than what you asked for? When you go to your bed, magnify Allah thirty four times, glorify Him thirty three times and praise Him thirty three times. This is better for you than a servant.ʿ  

أَنَّ فَاطِمَةَ اشْتَكَتْ مَا تَلْقَى مِنْ أَثَرِ الرَّحَى فِي يَدِهَا وَأَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ سَبْيٌ فَانْطَلَقَتْ فَلَمْ تَجِدْهُ وَلَقِيَتْ عَائِشَةَ فَأَخْبَرَتْهَا فَلَمَّا جَاءَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَخْبَرَتْهُ عَائِشَةُ بِمَجِيءِ فَاطِمَةَ إِلَيْهَا فَجَاءَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ وَقَدْ أَخَذْنَا مَضَاجِعَنَا فَذَهَبْنَا لِنَقُومَ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ عَلَى مَكَانِكُمَا فَقَعَدَ بَيْنَنَا حَتَّى وَجَدْتُ بَرْدَ قَدَمَيْهِ عَلَى صَدْرِي فَقَالَ أَلَا أُعَلِّمُكُمَا خَيْرًا مِمَّا سَأَلْتُمَا؟ إِذَا أَخَذْتُمَا مَضَاجِعَكُمَا أَنْ تُكَبِّرَا اللهَ أَرْبَعًا وَثَلَاثِينَ وَتُسَبِّحَاهُ ثَلَاثًا وَثَلَاثِينَ وَتَحْمَدَاهُ ثَلَاثًا وَثَلَاثِينَ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمَا مِنْ خَادِمٍ  

O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, Fatimah is complaining to you about the marks left on her hands from grinding flour and she is asking you for a servant. He said: “Shall I not tell you about something that is better for you than a servant?” and he told us, when going to sleep, to say thirty-three and thirty-three and thirty-four of tasbeeh, tahmeed and takbeer.  

اشْتَكَتْ إِلَيَّ فَاطِمَةُ مَجْلَ يَدَيْهَا مِنَ الطَّحْنِ فَأَتَيْنَا النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ فَاطِمَةُ تَشْتَكِي إِلَيْكَ مَجْلَ يَدَيْهَا مِنَ الطَّحْنِ وَتَسْأَلُكَ خَادِمًا فَقَالَ أَلا أَدُلُّكُمَا عَلَى مَا هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمَا مِنْ خَادِمٍ؟ فَأَمَرَنَا عِنْدَ مَنَامِنَا بِثَلاثٍ وَثَلاثِينَ وَثَلاثٍ وَثَلاثِينَ وَأَرْبَعٍ وَثَلاثِينَ مِنْ تَسْبِيحٍ وَتَحْمِيدٍ وَتَكْبِيرٍ  

Fāṭimah came to the Prophet ﷺ to complain about the marks on her hands from grinding flour. She heard that the Prophet ﷺ had received some captives, so she went to him to request a servant but did not find him. Instead, she met ʿĀʾishah and shared her request with her. When the Prophet ﷺ returned, ʿĀʾishah informed him about Fāṭimah's request.

So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to us, and we had already taken our places in bed. We got up to greet him, and he said, "Stay in your places." He then sat among us until I felt the coolness of his feet on my chest. He then said, "I shall guide you to something better than having a servant: When you go to bed, say Allāhu akbar (Allah is the Greatest) thirty-four times, al-ḥamdu lillāh (Praise be to Allah) thirty-three times, and subḥān Allāh (Glory be to Allah) thirty-three times; This is better for you than having a servant."  

أَنَّ فَاطِمَةَ أَتَتِ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ تَشْكُو إِلَيْهِ أَثَرَ الرَّحَى وَبَلَغَهَا أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ أُتِيَ بِسَبْيٍ فَأَتَتِ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ تَسْأَلُهُ خَادِمًا فَلَمْ تَلْقَهُ وَلَقِيَتْ عَائِشَةَ فَحَدَّثَتْهَا الْحَدِيثَ فَلَمَّا جَاءَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَخْبَرَتْهُ بِذَلِكَ

فَأَتَانَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَقَدْ أَخَذْنَا مَضَاجِعَنَا فَذَهَبْنَا لِنَقُومَ فَقَالَ «مَكَانَكُمَا» وَقَعَدَ بَيْنَنَا حَتَّى وَجَدْتُ بَرْدَ قَدَمِهِ عَلَى صَدْرِي فَقَالَ «أَدَلُّكَمَا عَلَى خَيْرٍ مِمَّا سَأَلْتُمَانِي: تُكَبِّرَانِ أَرْبَعًا وَثَلَاثِينَ وَتُسَبِّحَانِ ثَلَاثًا وَثَلَاثِينَ وَتَحْمَدَانِ ثَلَاثًا وَثَلَاثِينَ إِذَا أَخَذْتُمَا مَضَاجِعَكُمَا فَإِنَّهُ خَيْرٌ لَكُمَا مِنْ خَادِمٍ»  

Fatima complained of the suffering caused to her by the hand mill. Some Captives were brought to the Prophet, she came to him but did not find him at home ʿAisha was present there to whom she told (of her desire for a servant). When the Prophet ﷺ came, Aisha informed him about Fatima's visit. ʿAli added "So the Prophet ﷺ came to us, while we had gone to our bed I wanted to get up but the Prophet ﷺ said, "Remain at your place". Then he sat down between us till I found the coolness of his feet on my chest. Then he said, "Shall I teach you a thing which is better than what you have asked me? When you go to bed, say, 'Allahu-Akbar' thirty-four times, and 'Subhan Allah thirty-three times, and 'Al hamdu-li l-lah thirty-three times for that is better for you both than a servant." (Using translation from Bukhārī 3705)  

أَنَّ فَاطِمَةَ شَكَتْ مِمَّا تَلْقَى مِنْ أَثَرِ الرَّحَى فَأَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ سَبْيٌ فَانْطَلَقَتْ فَلَمْ تَجِدْهُ فَوَجَدَتْ عَائِشَةَ فَأَخْبَرَتْهَا فَلَمَّا جَاءَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَخْبَرَتْهُ عَائِشَةُ بِمَجِيءِ فَاطِمَةَ فَجَاءَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ إِلَيْنَا وَقَدْ أَخَذْنَا مَضَاجِعَنَا فَذَهَبْتُ لِأَقُومَ فَقَالَ «عَلَى مَكَانِكُمَا» فَقَعَدَ بَيْنَنَا حَتَّى وَجَدْتُ بَرْدَ قَدَمَيْهِ عَلَى صَدْرِي فَقَالَ «أَلَا أُعَلِّمُكُمَا خَيْرًا مِمَّا سَأَلْتُمَانِي إِذَا أَخَذْتُمَا مَضَاجِعَكُمَا فَكَبِّرَا أَرْبَعًا وَثَلَاثِينَ وَسَبِّحَا ثَلَاثًا وَثَلَاثِينَ وَتَحَمَّدَا ثَلَاثًا وَثَلَاثِينَ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمَا مِنْ خَادِمٍ»  

Fatimah complained to me about the flour, so I said, "Why don't you go to your father and ask him for a servant?" She went to the Prophet ﷺ to request a servant but did not find him. She returned to her place. When the Prophet ﷺ came, he was wearing a garment with a fringe at the bottom, and when we wore it lengthwise, our feet would extend beyond it, and when we wore it widthwise, our heads and feet would protrude.

The Prophet ﷺ asked Fatimah, "Did you come earlier with a need?" She replied, "No." I said, "Yes, she complained to me about the flour, and I suggested she ask her father for a servant." The Prophet ﷺ said, "Shall I guide you to something better for the two of you than having a servant? When you go to bed, say 'SubhanAllah' (Glory be to Allah) thirty-three times, 'Alhamdulillah' (Praise be to Allah) thirty-three times, and 'Allahu Akbar' (Allah is the Greatest) thirty-four times."  

شَكَتْ لِي فَاطِمَةُ مِنَ الطَّحِينِ فَقُلْتُ لَوْ أَتَيْتِ أَبَاكِ فَسَأَلْتِيهِ خَادِمًا قَالَ فَأَتَتِ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَلَمْ تُصَادِفْهُ فَرَجَعَتْ مَكَانَهَا فَلَمَّا جَاءَ أُخْبِرَ فَأَتَانَا وَعَلَيْنَا قَطِيفَةٌ إِذَا لَبِسْنَاهَا طُولًا خَرَجَتْ مِنْهَا جُنُوبُنَا وَإِذَا لَبِسْنَاهَا عَرْضًا خَرَجَتْ مِنْهَا أَقْدَامُنَا وَرُءُوسُنَا۔

قَالَ «يَا فَاطِمَةُ أُخْبِرْتُ أَنَّكِ جِئْتِ فَهَلْ كَانَتْ لَكِ حَاجَةٌ؟ » قَالَتْ لَا قُلْتُ بَلَى شَكَتْ إِلَيَّ مِنَ الطَّحِينِ فَقُلْتُ لَوْ أَتَيْتِ أَبَاكِ فَسَأَلْتِيهِ خَادِمًا فَقَالَ «أَفَلَا أَدُلُّكُمَا عَلَى مَا هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمَا مِنْ خَادِمٍ؟ إِذَا أَخَذْتُمَا مَضَاجِعَكُمَا تَقُولَانِ ثَلَاثًا وَثَلَاثِينَ وَثَلَاثًا وَثَلَاثِينَ وَأَرْبَعًا وَثَلَاثِينَ تَسْبِيحَةً وَتَحْمِيدَةً وَتَكْبِيرَةً»  

Fatimah complained to me about the marks on her hands from grinding flour. I suggested to her, "Why don't you go to your father and ask him for a servant?" She went to the Prophet ﷺ to request a servant but did not find him there. When he returned, she had already left. When she later informed him about it, he came to us, and we had already gone to bed. We had a thin curtain over us, and when we wore it long, our feet would protrude, but when we wore it sideways, our heads or feet would be exposed.

The Prophet ﷺ asked Fatimah, "Were you the one who came earlier with a need?" She replied, "Yes, I complained to you about the marks on my hands from grinding flour, and you suggested I ask for a servant." The Prophet ﷺ said, "Shall I guide you to something better than having a servant? When you go to bed, say subḥān Allāh (Glory be to Allah) thirty-three times, al-ḥamdu lillāh (Praise be to Allah) thirty-three times, and Allāhu akbar (Allah is the Greatest) thirty-four times."  

شَكَتْ إِلَيَّ فَاطِمَةُ مَجْلَ يَدَيْهَا مِنَ الطَّحِينِ فَقُلْتُ لَوْ أَتَيْتِ أَبَاكِ فَسَأَلْتِيهِ خَادِمًا فَأَتَتِ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَلَمْ تُصَادِفْهُ فَرَجَعَتْ فَلَمَّا جَاءَ أُخْبِرَ فَأَتَانَا وَقَدْ أَخَذْنَا مَضَاجِعَنَا وَعَلَيْنَا قَطِيفَةٌ إِذَا لَبِسْنَاهَا طُولًا خَرَجَتْ مِنْهَا جُنُوبُنَا وَإِذَا لَبِسْنَاهَا عَرْضًا خَرَجَتْ رُءُوسُنَا أَوْ أَقْدَامُنَا۔

فَقَالَ: «يَا فَاطِمَةُ أُخْبِرْتُ أَنَّكِ جِئْتِ فَهَلْ كَانَ لَكِ حَاجَةٌ؟» قُلْتُ بَلَى شَكَتْ إِلَيَّ مَجْلَ يَدَيْهَا مِنَ الطَّحِينِ۔ فَقُلْتُ لَوْ أَتَيْتِ أَبَاكِ فَسَأَلْتِيهِ خَادِمًا۔ قَالَ: «أَفَلَا أَدُلُّكُمَا عَلَى مَا هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمَا مِنَ الْخَادِمِ؟ إِذَا أَخَذْتُمَا مَضَاجِعَكُمَا» فَقُولَا «ثَلَاثًا وَثَلَاثِينَ وَثَلَاثًا وَثَلَاثِينَ وَأَرْبَعًا وَثَلَاثِينَ مِنْ تَحْمِيدٍ وَتَسْبِيحٍ وَتَكْبِيرٍ»  

Fatima complained about the blisters on her hand because of using a mill-stone. She went to ask the Prophet for servant, but she did not find him (at home) and had to inform ʿAisha of her need. When he came, ʿAisha informed him about it. ʿAli added: The Prophet ﷺ came to us when we had gone to our beds. When I was going to get up, he said, "'Stay in your places," and sat between us, till I felt the coolness of the feet on my chest. The Prophet ﷺ then said, "Shall I not tell you of a thing which is better for you than a servant? When you (both) go to your beds, say 'Allahu Akbar' thirty-three times, and 'Subhan Allah' thirty-three times, 'Al hamdu 'illah' thirty-three times, for that is better for you than a servant." Ibn Seereen said, "Subhan Allah' (is to be said for) thirty-four times." (Using translation from Bukhārī 6318)   

شَكَتْ فَاطِمَةُ مَا تَلْقَى مِنْ أَثَرِ الرَّحَى فِي يَدِهَا قَالَ فَذَهَبَتْ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ تَسْأَلُهُ خَادِمًا فَلَمْ تَرَهُ قَالَ فَذَكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ لِعَائِشَةَ ؓ فَلَمَّا جَاءَ ذَكَرْتُ لَهُ قَالَ فَجَاءَنَا وَقَدْ أَخَذْنَا مَضَاجِعَنَا فَذَهَبْتُ أَقُومُ فَقَالَ مَكَانَكِ ثُمَّ جَلَسَ بَيْنَنَا حَتَّى وَجَدْتُ بَرْدَ قَدَمَيْهِ عَلَى صَدْرِي فَقَالَ أَلَا أَدُلُّكُمَا عَلَى مَا هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمَا مِنْ خَادِمٍ إِذَا أَخَذْتُمَا مَضَاجِعَكُمَا فَسَبِّحَا ثَلَاثًا وَثَلَاثِينَ وَاحْمِدَا ثَلَاثًا وَثَلَاثِينَ وَكَبِّرَا أَرْبَعًا وَثَلَاثِينَ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ مِنْ خَادِمٍ وَقَالَ خَالِدٌ عَنِ ابْنِ سِيرِينَ التَّسْبِيحُ أَرْبَعًا وَثَلَاثِينَ  

"أَلا أدُلُّكُمَا عَلَى خَيْرٍ مِمَّا سَألتُمَاهُ؟ إِذَا أخَذْتُمَا مَضَاجِعكمَا فَكبِّرَا اللَّه أرْبَعًا وَثَلَاثِينَ، واحْمَدَا ثَلاثًا وَثَلَاثِينَ، وسبِّحَا ثَلاثًا وثَلَاثِينَ، فَإِن ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمَا من خَادِم".  

"أَلا أدُلُّك عَلَى مَا هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكِ مِنْ خَادِمٍ؟ تُسبِّحِينَ ثَلاثًا وثَلَاثِينَ، وتَحْمَدِينَ ثَلاثًا وَثَلَاثِينَ، وتُكبِّرينَ أرْبَعًا وَثَلَاثِينَ، حِينَ تَأخُذِينَ مَضْجَعَك".  

" عن أبى ليلى، ثنا على أن فاطمة اشتكت ما تلقى من أثر الرحى في يدها، وأتى النبي ﷺ سبى فانطلقت فلم تجده، وأخبرت عائشة، فلما جاء النبي ﷺ وقد أخذنا مضاجعنا فذهبنا لنقوم فقال النبي ﷺ : مكانكما، فقعد بيننا حتى وجدت برد قدمه في صدرى، فقال: ألا أعلمكما خيرا مما سألتما؟ إذا أخذتما مضاجعكما أن تكبرا الله أربعا وثلاثين، وتسبحاه ثلاثًا وثلاثين، وتحمداه ثلاثًا وثلاثين، فهو خير لكما من خادم ".  

" عَنْ عَلِىٍّ: أنَّ فَاطمَةَ اشْتَكَتْ إلَى النَّبِىِّ ﷺ يَدَهَا مِنَ العجْنِ والرَّحَا، فَقَدِمَ عَلى النَّبِىِّ ﷺ سَبْيٌ فَأَتَتْهُ لِتَسْألَه خَادِمًا فَلَم تجِدْهُ وَوَجَدَتْ عَائِشَةَ، فَأخْبَرَتْهَا، فَجَاءنَا بَعْدَ مَا أخَذْنَا مَضَاجِعَنا، فَذَهَبْنَا نَتَقَدَّم فَقَال: مَكَانَكُمَا! فَجَاء فَجَلَس بيْني وَبَيْنَها حَتَّى وَجَدْتُ بَرْدَ قَدَمِهِ، فَقَالَ: ألاَ أدُلُّكُمَا عَلَى مَا هُو خَيْر لَكُما مِن خَادِم؟ تُسبِّحانِه دَبْرَ كُلِّ صَلاَةٍ ثَلاثًا وَثَلاَثينَ، وَتَحْمَدَانِه ثَلاثًا وَثَلاثينَ، وَتُكَبِّرَانِه أَرْبعًا وَثَلاَثين، وَإذَا أخَذْتُما مَضَاجِعَكُما مِن الليَّلِ، فَتِلْكَ مِائَةٌ".