SubhanAllah Meaning in Islam: When & Why Do Muslims Say It

‘Or have they a deity other than Allah? Subhanallah [exalted is Allah above] whatever they associate with Him.’ (Surah Al-Isra 17:43)

SubhanAllah means Allah is perfect in every sense of the word, without any weakness, defect, or imperfection.

SubhanAllah Meaning in Islam: When & Why Do Muslims Say It?

We say SubhanAllah when we are amazed by Allah SWT’s bounty and glory. For example, with mesmerizing view of the green forest and serene sky, we will immediately say SubhanAllah.

The command to glorify Him by saying SubhanAllah implies declaring Him above every fault and shortcoming. You may also hear the phrase Subhanahu wa ta’ala. This is often abbreviated in the written form SWT.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) advised saying SubhanAllah in addition to other words of praise to Allah SWT (Tasbeeh) 33 times after each prayer.

Thus, SubhanAllah (Allah is perfect) 33 times, Alhamdulillah (All praise is due to Allah) 33 times, and Allahu Akbar (Allah is the greatest) 33 times.

Reciting SubhanAllah brings your heart to peace when you are under stress or seeking solace. It is the source of seeking forgiveness as we commit several sins in our everyday life. When we are hopeful to be forgiven, it keeps us grounded and on track.

Abu Hurairah reported:

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, « There are two statements that are light for the tongue to remember, heavy in the scales, and are dear to the Merciful: ‘Subhan-Allahi wa bihamdihi, Subhan-Allahil Azeem [Glory be to Allah, and He is the praise, (and) Allah, the Greatest is free from imperfection].' »

The Rewards of saying SubhanAllah

Allah’s Messenger Muhammad (PBUH) said that a person who recitesSubhanallah wa bihamdihi a hundred times in a day, that person’s sins would be forgiven even if those sins are like the foam of the sea.

Life is a test, and Allah has decreed different situations for all people to see who is best in deed. So, in a nutshell, our primary goal is to worship Allah in the manner he deserves to be worshipped, and by doing this, we gain tranquillity in our hearts because we believe, as Muslims, the want or yearning to worship something is an intrinsic part of the human make up. Allah loves when we go back to Him with sincerity and humility, carrying the burden of our sins to Him with hopes of having them obliterated and wholly forgiven.

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, « He who recites after every prayer: Subhan-Allah (Allah is free from imperfection) thirty-three times; Alhamdulillah (praise be to Allah) thirty-three times; Allahu Akbar (Allah is Greatest) thirty-three times; and completes the hundred with La ilaha illallahu, wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu, wa Huwa ‘ala kulli shai’in Qadir (there is no true god except Allah. He is One and He has no partner with Him. He is the sovereignty and He is the praise, and He is Omnipotent), will have all his sins pardoned even if they may be as large as the foam on the surface of the sea. »

[Muslim]. Reference: Book 16, Hadith 12