Desirability of observing the Shari`ah way of Dhikr

Q 3: What is the ruling on saying any formula of Dhikr (remembrance of Allah) in a specific number of times? How can it be impermissible while there are the two following Hadith: If anyone invokes blessings on me once on Friday, Allah will bless them ten times, and whoever invokes blessings on me ten times, Allah will bless them one hundred times and Whoever says: 'There is none worthy of worship (in truth) but Allah. He is alone, Who has no partner. To Him belongs the sovereignty and to Him praise is due. He gives life and causes death and He is Potent over everything,' a hundred times every day, they will get the reward of emancipating one thousand persons from the progeny of Isma`il (Ishmael) ?

A: A. It is desirable to say the formulae of Dhikr for a specific number of times, if this is stated in the Shari`ah (Islamic law). Regarding the formulae of Dhikr for which there is no mention of a specific number of times, it is permissible to say them without being bound by a specific number. Accordingly, this permissibility does not contradict the authenticity of the Hadiths mentioned above. The first is related by Muslim as follows: "If anyone invokes blessings on me once, Allah will bless them ten times.'' This includes Friday as well as all the other days. In the second Hadith, Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever says: 'There is none worthy of worship (in truth) but Allah. He is alone, Who has no partner. To Him belongs the sovereignty and to Him praise is due. He is Potent over everything,' a hundred times every day, they will get the reward of emancipating ten slaves, and there are recorded a hundred good deeds to their credit and a hundred evil deeds are blotted out from their scroll, and that will be a safeguard for them against Satan on that day until evening. No one will obtain better than this except one who has done more than this (who utters these words more than one hundred times and does more good acts). (Part No. 2; Page No. 533) Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him). Muslim added in his narration: Any person who says: "Glorified be Allah and praise is due to Him" one hundred times a day, their sins will be obliterated, even if they are equal to the extent of the foam of the sea. It is related in the two Sahih (authentic) Books of Hadith (i.e. Al-Bukhari and Muslim) on the authority of Abu Ayyub Al-Ansary that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Whoever says: 'There is no deity but Allah. He is alone, Who has no partner. To Him belongs the sovereignty and to Him praise is due. He is Potent over everything,' ten times, they are like a person who emancipates four slaves from the progeny of Isma`il. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.