Digital TasbihWhy 33, 99 and 108?
The numbers used in tasbih and japa counting: 33 and 99 in Islamic practice, 108 in Hindu, Buddhist and Sikh practice, and the reasons people give for them.
Two sets of numbers are common. In Islamic practice, the numbers 33 and 99 are used: 33 repetitions of each of three phrases after prayer make 99, which is also the number of the "beautiful names" of Allah. In Hindu, Buddhist, Jain and Sikh traditions, 108 is the usual count of a mala. No single historical reason is known for 108; the explanations include astronomy, mathematics and the Sanskrit alphabet, as listed in our guide to 108.
A smaller number such as 27, 33 or 54 is fine, and many people simply count to a number that fits the time they have. The counter on the home page lets you set any goal, and the goal of the phrases in the list follows the common practice.
The counter is a simple aid. It stores its numbers only in this browser on your device, and nothing is sent to us. Dhikr and japa are personal practices; ask a teacher of your tradition about wording and counts.