Praise be to Allaah.
There is no sound (saheeh) basis for reciting these adhkaar
the number of times mentioned in the question. These numbers are usually
stated by some of the innovators, most of whom are Sufis, who describe
adhkaar and the number of times they are to be repeated, making that up
themselves; they say whoever recites such and such will get such and such
benefits and protection, and whoever recites such and such a wird will get
such and such a reward.
Of course, these are matters which can only be known through
wahy (revelation). So the basic principle in this case is that dhikr and
du’aa’s are of two types:
1 – Adhkaar which were narrated in the Qur’aan and Sunnah, to
be recited at a certain time, in a certain place or in certain
circumstances. This type should be recited as prescribed, at the appropriate
time, or in the appropriate circumstances or place, with the correct words
or posture, without adding anything or taking anything away.
2 – All dhikr or du’aa’ in general that is not connected to
certain times or places. These fall into two categories:
(i)
Those which were narrated from
the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), so they should
be recited in the wording that he used. They should not be connected to any
particular time or place, and they should not be connected to a specific
number of times to be recited.
(ii)
Those which were not narrated
from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), rather
the person makes them up himself, or they were narrated from the salaf. It
is permissible to say such words so long as five conditions are met:
1-
He should choose the best and
clearest words, for he is conversing with his Lord and God.
2-
The words should be of an
appropriate style.
3-
The du’aa’ should be free of
anything that is forbidden in Islam, e.g. it should involve any element of
seeking help from anything other than Allaah, and so on.
4-
It should be of the general
kind of dhikr and du’aa’, not connected to a particular time, place or
circumstances.
5-
It should not be taken as a
regular practice.
Adapted from Tasheeh al-Du’aa’ by Shaykh Bakr Abu Zayd
(p. 42)
Based on the above, the words mentioned in the question are
phrases that are narrated in the Qur’aan and Sunnah, but saying that they
must be repeated this number of times is an innovated matter which should
not be followed. Rather we should mention them during our du’aa’s and
address Allaah by all His beautiful names, without singling out some names
or stating that they should be recited a certain number of times or at
certain times, making that up ourselves. We should adhere to what was
narrated in sharee’ah concerning certain times, places or situations
connected to a particular du’aa’; if no such details were narrated in
sharee’ah then we should not make them up ourselves because that is
encroaching upon the rights of Prophethood.
And Allaah knows best.