Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If I say Subhan Allah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illallah, and Allahu Akbar, this is more beloved to me than everything upon which the sun rises."

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "There are two phrases which are light on the tongue, heavy on the scales, and beloved to the Most Merciful: Subhan Allah wa bihamdihi, Subhan Allah al-Azeem."

It is narrated from Abdullah, he says: If I say "Subhan Allah, walhamdulillah, wa la ilaha illallah, wallahu akbar," this is more beloved to me than spending in the way of Allah as many dinars as their number.

It is narrated from Hazrat Thabit Banani that he says: One of the companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) narrated this hadith to me at this pillar. He said: Whoever says "Subhan Allah wa bihamdihi wa astaghfirullaha wa atubu ilayh" — it is written on a paper for him, then a seal of musk is placed on it. It will not be broken until the Day of Resurrection, when that person will be given its full reward.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr that he said: If I say these words, it is more beloved to me than sending bridled horses (in the path of Allah) equal to their number.

It is narrated from Hazrat Ubaid bin Umair that in the record of a believer, one glorification of Allah’s praise is better than mountains of gold moving or flowing along with it.

Hazrat Waleed narrates about Abu Al-Ahwas, he says that I heard Abu Al-Ahwas say: Seeking a need with one tasbih is better than a milch she-camel provided in a year of hardship.

Hazrat Ubaid says that for me to recite a few tasbihat is more beloved than spending the same number of dinars in the way of Allah.

Hazrat Mus'ab bin Sa'd narrates: When a servant says "Subhan Allah," the angels say "Wa bihamdihi," and when the servant says "Subhan Allah wa bihamdihi," the angels pray for mercy for him.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Saeed that he says: When a servant says "Alhamdulillah kathiran" (All praise is due to Allah in abundance), the angel says: How should I write this? Allah says: Write it as My abundant mercy. And when the servant says "Subhanallah kathiran" (Glory be to Allah in abundance), the angel says: How should I write this? Allah says: Write for him My abundant mercy. And when the servant says "Allahu Akbar kabira" (Allah is the Greatest, Most Great), the angel says: How should I write this? Allah says: Write for him My great mercy.

It is narrated from Hazrat Amr bin Maymoon that he said: Is any one of you incapable of reciting Tasbeeh one hundred times so that he may have a thousand good deeds for him?

It is narrated from Abdullah bin Abi Awfa that he said: A man came to the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). He mentioned that he could not learn anything from the Qur'an and asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) for something that would suffice him in place of the Qur'an. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: "Say: Subhan Allah, walhamdu lillah, wa la ilaha illallah, wallahu akbar, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah."

It is narrated from Hazrat Nu’man bin Bashir that he says the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Those people who recite the tasbih (glorification), tahmid (praise), and tahlil (declaration of the oneness of Allah) out of awe of Allah, their tasbihat circle around the Throne. These tasbihat make a buzzing sound like that of bees. They remember the one who recited them. Does any one of you not like that there should be something with the Most Merciful that continuously remembers him?”

Hazrat Yasirah … who was among the emigrant women … narrates. She says that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, instructed us: "You must recite tasbih, takbir, and taqdis, and count them on your fingers. He, peace and blessings be upon him, said: For these fingers will be summoned and questioned on the Day of Resurrection. Do not be heedless, lest you be forgotten from mercy."

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Darda (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: I submitted, "O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)! The wealthy have taken all the reward. Just as we pray, they also pray; just as we fast, they also fast; and just as we perform Hajj, they also perform Hajj. And they also give charity, whereas we do not find anything to give in charity." The narrator says: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Shall I not tell you something, that when you do it, you will catch up with those who have surpassed you, and those who come after you will not be able to catch up with you except by doing what you do? After every prayer, recite Subhan Allah thirty-three times, Alhamdulillah thirty-three times, and Allahu Akbar thirty-four times."

Hazrat Abu Darda (may Allah be pleased with him) also narrates a similar tradition from the Noble Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family).

It is narrated from Hazrat Hilal bin Yasaf that he says Hazrat Abdullah said: For me to recite a few tasbihat is more beloved than spending the same number of dinars in the way of Allah.

Hazrat Abu Dharr narrates from the Noble Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) that he (peace be upon him) said: For every tasbih (glorification of Allah), there is a charity.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said to me: "Shall I not tell you the most beloved words to Allah, the Exalted?" Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I submitted, "O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), why not! Please tell me the most beloved words to Allah, the Exalted." He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The most beloved words to Allah, the Exalted, are: Subhan Allah wa bihamdihi."

It is narrated from Hazrat Ka'b that he says: The best deed among deeds is "Subhat al-Hadith," and the worst deed among deeds is "Tajdeef." The narrator says: I asked, "O Abu Abdur Rahman! What is Subhat al-Hadith?" He (may Allah have mercy on him) replied: A person does tasbeeh (remembers Allah) while others are engaged in conversation. The narrator says: I asked, "What is Tajdeef?" He (may Allah have mercy on him) replied: People are with goodness, but when questioned, they respond with evil.

It is narrated from Hazrat Saeed bin Musayyib that he says: We were with Hazrat Saad bin Malik, then he remained silent for a moment and then said: Indeed, in this silence of mine, I have attained that which the Nile and the Euphrates irrigate. The narrator says: We asked, "What have you attained?" He replied: Subhan Allah, walhamdulillah, wa la ilaha illallah, wallahu akbar.