What does "glorifying Allah", which is often mentioned in the Quran mean? How "is Allah glorified"?

Dear Brother / Sister,

TASBIH means to say that Allah is free of any imperfections, to glorify Allah, to worship Allah and to say "subhanallah".

To say "subhanallah" 33 times, "alhamdulillah" 33 times and "Allahu akbar" 33 times after performing a prayer is also tasbih.

The words that are derived from the root of the word tasbih, and glorify and extol Allah are mentioned in about one hundred places in the Quran.

Allah mentions tasbih and dhikr together:  

"O ye who believe! Celebrate the praises of Allah, and do this often; And glorify Him morning and evening." (al-Ahzab, 33/41, 42).

In the verse above, Allah wants believers to mention Allah and to glorify Him. Mentioning (dhikr) and glorifying (tasbih) are dealt with together. Besides, tasbih is a kind of dhikr. The word dhikr includes various sufistic concepts. One of them is tasbih. There are various explanations of scholars about tasbih mentioned in the verse above. Some scholars interpret it as saying that Allah is free of any defects and imperfections. Some scholars regard it as prayer and supplication (salah). (al-Mawardi, an-Nukatu wal-Uyun, Beirut 1992, IV/409)

It is stated in the Quran that everything in the world and sky glorifies Allah:

"Whatever is in the heavens and on earth let it declare the Praises and Glory of Allah: for He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise." (al-Hadid, 57/1).

This verse is repeated in two more places in the Quran (al-Hashr, 59/1; as-Saff, 61/1). In all three places, it is the first verse of the three chapters.

The phrase "everything declares the praises and glory of Allah" in the verse was interpreted variously. The glorification of Allah by living beings involves saying through the tongue that He is free from all kinds of imperfections and things that do not fit His majesty. All scholars say that living beings glorify Allah like that. However, they hold different views about non-living beings glorifying Allah. According to some scholars, the glorification of non-living beings is their being shown as evidence for Allah's creativity and power over everything. The existence of these beings shows the exaltedness of Allah. This state of theirs is glorification. Other scholars say non-living beings glorify Allah like living beings and show the following verse as evidence:

"The seven heavens and the earth, and all beings therein, declare His glory: there not a thing but celebrates His praise; and yet ye understand not how they declare His glory! Verily He is Oft- Forbearing, Most Forgiving." (al-Isra, 17/44)

According to the scholars who hold this view, there is something living that man cannot notice in every being that is thought to be non-living. Everything is made up of atoms. The electrons around the nucleus of the atom turn in an astonishing speed.

According to some other scholars, everything in the universe, all living and non-living beings, is under the command of Allah. He uses them as He wishes. Everything surrenders to His orders. Their glorification is this surrendering.   (Muhammad Ali as-Sabuni, Safwatut-Tafasir, İstanbul 1987, III/319 ff.)

Some other verses regarding glorification (tasbih) are as follows:

"But celebrate the praises of thy Lord and be of those who prostrate themselves in adoration." (al-Hijr, 15/98).

"And thou wilt see the angels surrounding the Throne (Divine) on all sides, singing Glory and Praise of their Lord. The Decision between them (at Judgment) will be in (perfect) justice. And the cry (on all sides) will be "Praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds." (az-Zumar, 39/75)

"Patiently, then persevere: for the Promise of Allah is true: and ask forgiveness for thy fault, and celebrate the Praises of thy Lord in the evening and in the morning." (al-Mumin, 40/55)

"Glorify the name of thy Guardian-Lord Most High" (al-A'la, 87/1)

Hz. Muhammad (pbuh) gave some advice to his ummah regarding tasbih and set an example as he did in other issues. Some hadiths of the Prophet regarding tasbih are as follows:

"There are two sentences that are light for the tongue, heavy on the scales and loved by Rahman: Subhanallahi wabihamdihi subhanallahil-azim (Allah is free from imperfection and all praise is due to Him; Allah is free from imperfection, the greatest)." (Muhammad b. Allan Dalilul-Falihin, Egypt 1971, IV/210)

"Shall I tell you the best and most beloved word according to Allah? The best and most beloved word according to Allah is: Subhanallahi wa bihamdihi."(Muhammad b. Allan, ibid, IV/214)

According to what is narrated from Abu Hurayra, the poor among the muhajirs went to Hz. Muhammad (pbuh) and said,  

"The rich attained high ranks and endless boons. They perform prayers and fasting like us. They have a lot of wealth. They perform hajj and umrah whenever they want; they make jihad and give sadaqah." Thereupon, Hz. Muhammad (pbuh) said,

"Shall I teach you something that will make you catch up with the ones that surpassed you, that will make you surpass the ones after you and that nobody except those who do what you do can surpass you?" The Companions said,

"Yes. O Messenger of Allah!" Hz. Muhammad (pbuh) said,

"Say, 'Glory be to Allah' thirty three times, 'Praise be to Allah' thirty three times, and 'Allah is the greatest' thirty three times after every prayer." (Abu Dawud, Imarah, 20; Ahmad b. Hanbal, V/196)

According to what Abu Hurayra narrates, Hz. Muhammad (pbuh) said,

"If anyone extols Allah after every prayer thirty-three times, praises Allah thirty-three times, declares His greatness thirty-three times, ninety-nine times in all, and says to complete a hundred:" La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu wa huwa ala kulli shayin qadir (There is no god but Allah, having no partner with Him, to Him belongs sovereignty and to Him is praise due, and He is Potent over everything)", his sins will be forgiven even if they are as abundant as the foam of the sea." (Muslim, Masajid, 144, 145, 146).

Besides, Hz. Muhammad (pbuh) glorified Allah before sleeping. (Abu Dawud, Adab, 98). He also advised glorifying Allah by saying, "Every tasbih is sadaqah." (Muslim, Musafirun, 84, Zakah, 53; Ahmad b. Hanbal, V/167, 168) There is also a special tasbih prayer. It is called tasbih prayer because a lot of tasbihs are said in it.

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