Tasbīḥ
Definition
Tasbih is the formula 'Subhanallah' — 'Glory be to Allah' — and by extension the act of glorifying and exalting Allah, which al-Ghazali presents as one of the most powerful and most portable forms of dhikr. The Prophet ﷺ taught that saying 'Subhanallah wa bihamdihi' one hundred times wipes sins as numerous as the foam on the sea; that 'Subhanallah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illa Allah, Allahu Akbar' are more beloved to Allah than everything the sun rises over. Al-Ghazali urges the reader to fill their moments — waiting, walking, resting — with tasbih as a way of maintaining continuous connection with Allah.
As understood in the classical tradition of Imam al-Ghazali and the scholars of his school.
How the scholars use Tasbīḥ.
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"alhamdulillah, and Allahu Akbar. In another narration, the best speech is what Allah has selected for his angels. Subhanallah, W-A-B khamdihi, glory be to Allah and with his praise. Abu Hurairah narrated from the prophet, peace be upon him, two words are light on the tongue, heavy in the balance, beloved to the most merciful, Subhanallah, W-A-B khamdihi, Subhanallah adhum, glory be to Allah, and with his praise, glory be to Allah the Almighty."
— Ibn al-Qayyim, The Wholesome Rain of Good Words
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"If he performs ablution and prays, his prayer will be accepted." The Virtue of Tasbih, Tahmid, and Other Remembrances The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, "Whoever glorifies Allah (says: Subhanallah) thirty-three times after every prayer, praises Allah (says: Alhamdulillah) thirty-three times, and magnifies Him (says: Allahu akbar) thirty-three times, completing a hundred with 'There is no deity but Allah alone, with no partner, His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He is over all things capable,' his sins will be forgiven even if they were like the foam of the sea."
— Imam al-Ghazali, Book 9: The Mysteries of Supplication
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"The prophet, peace be upon him, said, the most beloved words to Allah the exalted are four, and it does not harm you with which one you begin. Subhanallah, glory be to Allah, alhamdulillah, praise be to Allah, la ilaha illallah, there is no God but Allah, and Allahu Akbar, Allah is the greatest. In another account, it is said, the best speech after the Quran is four, and they are from the Quran, Subhanallah, la ilaha illallah, alhamdulillah, and Allahu Akbar."
— Ibn al-Qayyim, The Wholesome Rain of Good Words
Appears in
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