What is Subḥānallāhi wa bi-ḥamdihī? The Virtues of This Dhikr
In Islamic belief, dhikr (dhikr; remembrance of God) means to remember Allah and to turn towards Him. One of the most important of these forms of dhikr is the Subḥānallāhi wa bi-ḥamdihī, Subḥānallāhi’l-ʿaẓīm glorification. So what does this phrase mean, and what is its virtue?
The Importance of Dhikr in the Noble Hadith
The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“There are two phrases which are light on the tongue, heavy on the scales, and beloved to Allah the Most High. These two phrases are:
سُبْحَانَ اللّٰهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ سُبْحَانَ اللّٰهِ الْعَظِيمِ (Subḥānallāhi wa bi-ḥamdihī, Subḥānallāhi’l-ʿaẓīm).”
It is important for every muʾmin (believer) to constantly repeat these two phrases and to feel their meanings in their qalb (qalb; the heart). For this dhikr has profound meanings and virtues.
What Does “Subḥānallāhi” Mean?
The phrase “Subḥānallāhi” expresses that Allah is free from all faults, deficiencies, and imperfections. With this word, we seek refuge in Allah: “O Allah! You are free from all defects and all deficient attributes; You are pure. There is no fault, defect, or imperfection in You.”
What Does “Wa bi-ḥamdihī” Mean?
The phrase “Wa bi-ḥamdihī” expresses that Allah bestows favors and blessings upon all creatures, and at the same time is endowed with perfect attributes, free from all faults.
The Weight on the Scale
According to narration, the reward of these two phrases is so great that even if one side of our mīzān (mīzān; the scale of deeds) were as vast as the sky, it could be filled with these dhikrs. The mīzān that Prophet Shuʿayb (ʿalayhi’s-salām) saw in his dream also demonstrates this truth.
The Value of Every Dhikr
Juwayriya (raḍiyallāhu ʿanhā), one of the wives of the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him), relates: One day, after performing the morning prayer, the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) left the house early. When he returned, he asked, “What did you do while I was away?” Juwayriya replied that she had been engaged in constant dhikr. Thereupon, the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“The four phrases I have said three times since I left you would outweigh all the dhikr you have recited since morning, in terms of reward…”
Make Dhikr a Part of Your Life
As Muslims, we should never let this precious glorification slip from our tongues and should strive to be in dhikr at all times. Let us not forget that it is in our hands to fill our mīzān with good deeds through dhikr.
The Opportunity to Earn a Thousand Rewards Daily
In a hadith, the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Are you incapable of earning a thousand rewards every day?” By saying “Subḥānallāh” a hundred times, we can earn a thousand rewards or have a thousand sins forgiven.
An Instructive Story
A tree asked its shade: “We are companions. Is it befitting for you to be a veil between me and the sun, preventing me from seeing its face?” The tree replied: “I stand for the sake of making dhikr of Allah.” This story illustrates the importance and beauty of being in constant dhikr.
The Repentant Servant
A fāsiq (fāsiq; a sinner) person, on his deathbed and full of remorse, repented by saying, “If a person commits a single sin, he should sigh a thousand and one times; I have a thousand sins, O my God, yet not a single sigh have I uttered…” and sought Allah’s forgiveness.
Let us not forget that we should never lose hope in the mercy of Allah the Most High. He does not burn His friends (awliyāʾ) in the Fire; He approaches them with love.