فَسَبِّحْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلْعَظِيمِ
So exalt the name of your Lord, the Most Great. (al-Haaqqah:52)
There are numerous virtues of engaging in Tasbeeh:
- Everything does Tasbeeh
The seven heavens and the earth and whatever is in them exalt Him. And there is not a thing except that it exalts [Allah] by His praise, but you do not understand their [way of] exalting. Indeed, He is ever Forbearing and Forgiving. [al-Isra:44]
2. Tasbeeh is the provision of every creature:
Nuh (as) said to his son, “…And (I instruct you to say), ‘سُبْحَانَ اللهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ ’ for it is the prayer of every thing and by it everything is given its provision.” [al-Adab al-Mufrad]
3. Tasbeeh is the way of the Angels:
وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ
while we declare Your praise and sanctify You?” [al-Baqarah:30]
4. It is the best speech:
Abu Dharr (ra) narrated, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked as to which words were the best. He ﷺ said, ‘Those for which Allah made a choice for His Angels and His servants.’ And the words are:
سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ
‘Glory is to Allah and praise is due to Him.’” [Muslim]
5. Doing Tasbeeh is the quality of those near Allah:
الَّذِينَ يَحْمِلُونَ الْعَرْشَ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهُ يُسَبِّحُونَ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ
Those [angels] who carry the Throne and those around it exalt [Allah] with praise of their Lord [Ghafir:7]
6. It is the way of the Prophet ﷺ:
‘Aisha (ra) narrated, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited often these words:
سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ
‘Exalted is Allah with His praise, I seek the forgiveness of Allah and return to Him (in repentance).’” [Muslim]
7. The best of what you can say:
سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ وَلاَ إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ
“Glory and praise be to You, O Allah. Blessed be Your name and exalted be Your majesty, there is none worthy of worship except You.” [al-Nasa’i]
8. An easy way of drawing close to Allah:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “What you mention of glory of Allah, of Tasbeeh (سُبْحَانَ اللهِ), Tahlil (اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ) and Tahmid (الْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ), revolves around the Throne, buzzing like bees…” [Ibn Majah]
Theses words are carried up to Allah!
9. Tasbeeh soothes and calms the heart:
And We already know that your breast is constrained by what they say. So exalt [Allah] with praise of your Lord and be of those who prostrate [to Him]. And worship your Lord until there comes to you the certainty (death). [al-Hijr:97-99]
10. Removes fear and anxiety:
The Prophet ﷺ said, “The one who is afraid of the darkness of the night, or is stingy to spend from his wealth or fears the fight of an enemy, then let him read much, سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ for indeed it is more beloved to Allah than a mountain of gold being spent in the way of Allah, the Exalted.” [Saheeh al-Targheeb]
11. Tasbeeh is Sadaqah:
The Prophet ﷺ said, “Every utterance of Allah’s Glorification (i.e., saying Subhan Allah) is an act of charity…” [Muslim]
12. Earn reward and erase sins:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Is anyone of you incapable of earning one thousand hasanah (rewards) in a day?” Someone from his gathering asked, “How can anyone of us earn a thousand hasanah?” He g said, “Glorify Allah a hundred times and a thousand hasanah will be written for you, or a thousand sins will be wiped away.” [Muslim]
So, say SubhanAllah 100 times
13. It fills the Scales:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “الْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ (all praise and gratitude belong to Allah) fills the scales, and سُبْحَانَ اللهِ (how far is Allah from every imperfection) and الْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ (all praise and gratitude belong to Allah) fill that which is between heaven and earth.” [Muslim]
14. It is better than heavy charity:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Whoever says سُبْحَانَ الله one hundred times before sunrise and before its setting, it is better than one hundred sacrificial camels.” [al-Tabarani]
15. It is protection against the Fire:
The Prophet ﷺ said, “Take your precaution.” They said, “O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Is the enemy here?” He ﷺ said, “No! But take your precaution against the Fire. Say:
سُبْحَانَ اللهِ، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ، وَلَا إِلهَ إِلَّا اللهُ، وَاللهُ أَكْبَرُ
‘Exalted is Allah, all praise is (due) to Allah, there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and Allah is Greatest.’ For indeed, these words will come on the Day of Judgement as protectors, from the back, and these are the enduring good deeds.” [al-Silsilah al-Sahihah]
16. It is a means of growing your Jannah:
The Prophet ﷺ said, “Whoever says, ‘سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ الْعَظِيمِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ, Exalted is Allah, the Great, and with His Praise,’ a date-palm tree is planted for him in Paradise.” [al-Tirmidhi]
When should we do Tasbeeh?
Generally at all times. Round the clock.
And then specifically during these times:
- Morning and Evening:
وَسَبِّحُوهُ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًا
And exalt Him morning and afternoon. [al-Ahzab:42]
2. At the beginning of prayer:
Abu Sa’eed (ra) narrated, “When the Prophet ﷺ started to pray he ﷺ would say,
سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ وَلَا إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ
‘Glory and praise be to You, O Allah. Blessed be Your name and exalted be Your majesty, there is none worthy of worship except You.).’” [al-Nasa’i]
3. Ruku’ and Sajdah:
Hudhaifah (ra) said that he prayed along with the Prophet ﷺ, and that he ﷺsaid in his ruku’, “سُبْحَانَ رَبِّىَ الْعَظِيمِ – Exalted is my Lord, the Great,” and in his prostration, “سُبْحَانَ رَبِّىَ الأَعْلَى – Exalted is my Lord, the Most High.” [Abu Dawud]
4. After salah
5. When going to sleep
6. In the night when you wake up
7. On hearing thunder
8. When descending
9. When you are feeling sad
