Allah subhana wa ta’ala has revealed to us certain phrases whose rewards are tremendous—greater than we can ever imagine. We should recognize Allah’s rahma (mercy): in Surah Baqarah Verse 185, He says, “Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.”
Small deeds bring big rewards. Every moment we are alive is a blessing to be grateful for—our life’s account has not yet been finalized, and we still have the chance to shape our destiny. Allah has shown us the path to Jannah, and we are all capable of walking it. Some duas and supplications carry immense rewards, yet take no longer than 10 seconds to recite. We only need the discipline to perform these acts consistently; only then can we hope to enter Jannah on the Day of Judgment.
This article focuses on the benefits of reciting “Subhan Allah wa bihamdihi”—a perfect example of a small deed that yields great rewards. Before exploring its virtues from hadith, let’s first understand its meaning.
Subhan Allah Wa Bihamdihi: Meaning, Arabic & Transliteration
- Arabic: سُبْحَانَ اللّهِ وَ بِحَمْدِهِ
- Transliteration: Subhan Allah Wa Bihamdihi
- English Meaning: “Glory be to Allah and praise be to Him.”
Common Variation
You may also hear an extended version:
- Arabic: سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ، سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ العَظِيم
- Transliteration: Subhanallahi Wa Bihamdihi, Subhanallahil Azeem
- English Meaning: “Glory be to Allah and all praise is due to Him; glory be to Allah the Great.”
About Al-Azeem (One of Allah’s 99 Names)
Al-Azeem translates to “The Magnificent One”—He is the Supreme in Glory, the Greatest. His reality is beyond human comprehension, infinitely greater than His creation. This name is mentioned in the Quran (4:24): “To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth, and He is the Most High, the Most Great.”
The Significance of the Phrase
“Subhan Allah wa bihamdihi” encapsulates tawheed—the foundational Islamic belief in Allah’s oneness. By reciting it, you glorify Allah, exalting Him above all flaws, partners, or shortcomings, while affirming that all praise is rightfully His.
Virtues & Benefits (From Hadith)
Authentic hadiths highlight three key blessings of reciting this phrase:
- Forgiveness of All Sins: Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Whoever says, ‘Subhan Allah wa bihamdihi,’ one hundred times a day will be forgiven all his sins—even if they were as much as the foam of the sea.”
- Light on the Tongue, Heavy in the Scales: Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “There are two statements that are light for the tongue to remember, heavy in the Scales, and dear to the Merciful: ‘Subhan-Allahi wa bihamdihi, Subhan-Allahil-Azim [Glory be to Allah and His is the praise, (and) Allah, the Greatest is free from imperfection]’.”
- Rewards Equal to a Full Day’s Prayer: Juwairiyah bint Al-Harith (may Allah be pleased with her), the Mother of the Believers, reported: The Prophet (ﷺ) came out of my apartment in the morning while I was performing the dawn prayer. He returned at midday and found me still sitting there. He asked: “Are you still in the same position as when I left you?” I replied yes. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “After leaving you, I recited four words three times—if weighed against all you have recited since morning, these will be heavier. They are: ‘Subhan-Allahi wa bihamdihi,
adada khalqihi, wa rida nafsihi, wa zinataharshihi, wa midada kalimatihi [Allah is free from imperfection and I begin with His praise, as many times as the number of His creatures, in accordance with His Good Pleasure, equal to the weight of His Throne, and equal to the ink that may be used in recording the words (for His Praise)]’.”
May we all embrace this simple yet powerful dhikr, reaping its immense rewards and drawing closer to Allah (swt) through consistent remembrance. Ameen.
About the Author
jislam
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"Allah's guidance to spread the Qur'an, unite Muslims, and strengthen Islam!" "هداية الله لنشر القرآن وتوحيد المسلمين وإعزاز الإسلام!"