The Virtues of This Dhikr
The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "There are two phrases which are light on the tongue, heavy on the scale, and beloved to the Most Merciful Allah." These phrases are: SubḥānAllāh and Al-ḥamdu liLlāh.
Dhikr That Is Light on the Tongue, Heavy on the Scale
"There are two phrases which are light on the tongue, heavy on the scale, and beloved to the Most Merciful Allah:
سُبْحانَ اللّٰهِ وَبِحَمْدِه۪ سُبْحَانَ اللّٰهِ الْعَظِيمِ
I declare Allah free from all attributes unbefitting His divinity and praise Him. I again declare the Mighty Allah free from all attributes unbefitting His divinity." (Bukhārī, Daʿawāt 65, Aymān 19, Tawḥīd 58; Muslim, Dhikr 31)
Allah, exalted is He, wills that His servant’s heart be with Him at every moment. As stated in the verse (āya): "Those who remember Allah while standing, sitting, and lying on their sides" (at all times) "…" (Āl ʿImrān, 191). In the aforementioned ḥadīths, the virtue and immense reward of this glorification (tasbīḥ) are expressed. This, in a sense, serves as encouragement and motivation. In this respect, it is necessary, according to the requirements of the verses (āyāt) and ḥadīths, not to restrict the remembrance (dhikr) of Allah to only this glorification, but to be in a state of constant remembrance (dhikr-i dāʾim).