Grand Ayatullah Shirazi remarks on need for precision in number of Zekr

The daily scholarly meeting of Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Sadegh al-Hosseini al-Shirazi was held on Sunday, the 9th of Rajab. In this session, like the previous meetings, the Marja answered the questions of the attendees about various jurisprudential issues.

Grand Ayatollah Shirazi discussed the reason for the prescribed number of some zikr, including what is mentioned about the “Tasbihat of Sayyida Fatima”, peace be upon her. He said: Just as a doctor determines how much medicine a patient needs for treatment of diseases, we should strictly follow what has been instructed by Ahlul-Bayt, peace be upon them, regarding the number of zikrs, including the “Tasbihat of Sayyida Fatima”. It should be done exactly the same number and in the same way, and since God Almighty is wise, He has determined this Tasbihat based on his wisdom as 34 times of “Allah u Akbar”, 33 times of “Alhamdulillah”, and 33 times of “Subhan Allah”.

In relation to some of the divine attributes that show the infinite power of God Almighty, the Marja cited a phrase from the Salawat of Sayyida Fatima al-Zahra, where we say: “by that number which your knowledge masters”, and then explained: The meaning of this phrase is a number that cannot be counted by humans and we cannot conceive it, and only God Almighty has the knowledge of it, and it is much more than millions and billions.

Regarding the meaning of the word “Secret” in this phrase, his Eminence mentioned the 4th verse of Surah al-Taghabun: (He knows all that is in the heavens and the earth and what you hide and reveal, and God knows the secrets of the hearts,). Grand Ayatullah Shirazi explained: the “Secret” is something that only the Almighty God knows about, and Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) have become aware of it with permission of God.

Mentioning verse 9 of Surah al-Najm: (Until the distance between God [and the Prophet] was the distance of two bows or less.), Grand Ayatollah Shirazi explained: Although “qaba qawsein” is a distance of two bows, what it actually means in that world is beyond our knowledge, and is among those secrets that only God Almighty and the Ahl al-Bayt, peace be upon them, are aware of.