Surah Al-Israa (17) — Ayah 44

(Ayah 44) ➊ {سُبْحٰنَهٗ … :} Everything in the earth and the heavens and whatever is between them is declaring the tasbih of Allah. {’’سَبَحَ يَسْبَحُ‘‘} (Fa) means to move swiftly in water or air. {’’سَبَحَ سَبْحًا وَسِبَاحَةً‘‘} The swift movement of stars in the orbits, as He said: «وَ كُلٌّ فِيْ فَلَكٍ يَّسْبَحُوْنَ» [ یٰسٓ : ۴۰ ] “And all are swimming in an orbit.” The swift running of a horse, as He said: «وَ السّٰبِحٰتِ سَبْحًا» [النازعات : ۳ ] However, in the form of tafeel, {’’اَلتَّسْبِيْحُ‘‘} means the tanziyah of Allah, that is, to declare Him free from every defect and deficiency. Its essence is also to show eagerness and swiftness in obedience, worship, and declaring purity. (Summary from Raghib) Some commentators have said, the meaning is that all these things are declaring the tasbih of Allah with the tongue of their state, meaning their condition shows that their Creator is free from every kind of defect or incapacity. But this interpretation is only needed if these things cannot declare tasbih with their own tongue, whereas it is established from the Noble Qur’an that every thing has perception and understanding and knows the way of its own worship and tasbih, but they have their own language which we do not understand, as Allah has said regarding every being in the heavens and the earth and the birds spreading their wings, that they are declaring the tasbih of Allah, and after that He said: «كُلٌّ قَدْ عَلِمَ صَلَاتَهٗ وَ تَسْبِيْحَهٗ » [ النور : ۴۱ ] “Each one has certainly known its prayer and its tasbih.” And He said: «اِنَّا سَخَّرْنَا الْجِبَالَ مَعَهٗ يُسَبِّحْنَ بِالْعَشِيِّ وَ الْاِشْرَاقِ (18) وَ الطَّيْرَ مَحْشُوْرَةً كُلٌّ لَّهٗۤ اَوَّابٌ » [ صٓ : ۱۸، ۱۹] “Indeed, We subjected the mountains with him, glorifying [Allah] in the late afternoon and [after] sunrise, and the birds assembled, all with him repeating [praises].” Allah also taught Dawud and Sulaiman (peace be upon them) the language of birds. (See An-Naml: 16) In fact, their conversation with ants and birds is also mentioned in Surah An-Naml (17 to 28). In this place too, He said: “And there is not a thing except that it exalts [Allah] by His praise, but you do not understand their tasbih.” It is clear that the meaning is not tasbih with the tongue of state, because everyone understands this language, and in reality, the state of every particle of the universe testifies to the unlimited power of its Creator and to His being free from every weakness and defect. Therefore, here, it is meant that everything declares tasbih not only with the tongue of state but also with the tongue of speech, and this is not far-fetched. Abdullah bin Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: [ وَلَقَدْ كُنَّا نَسْمَعُ تَسْبِيْحَ الطَّعَامِ وَهُوَ يُؤْكَلُ ] [ بخاري، المناقب، باب علامات النبوۃ في الإسلام : ۳۵۷۹ ] “We (in the time of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him) used to hear the tasbih of the food while it was being eaten.” For more incidents about the understanding, love and hatred, and tasbih of inanimate objects and plants, see Surah Al-Baqarah (74).

➋ { اِنَّهٗ كَانَ حَلِيْمًا غَفُوْرًا :} That is why He sees all your insolence and disobedience, yet despite having power, He shows forbearance towards you and does not send any punishment upon you, nor does He cut off your provision, nor deprive you of His blessings. If it were not for His extreme forbearance and concealment, your matter would have long been finished. See Surah An-Nahl (61) and Surah Fatir (45).

44. 1. That is, all are obedient to Him and, in their own ways, are engaged in His glorification and praise. Even if we cannot understand their glorification and praise. This is also supported by some Quranic verses, for example, regarding Prophet Dawud (عليه السلام), it is mentioned (اِنَّا سَخَّرْنَا الْجِبَالَ مَعَهٗ يُسَبِّحْنَ بالْعَشِيِّ وَالْاِشْرَاقِ) 38. Sad:18) 'We subjected the mountains to Dawud (عليه السلام),' so they, in the evening and morning, would declare Allah's glorification (purity) along with him.' Regarding some stones, Allah Almighty said (وَاِنَّ مِنْهَا لَمَا يَهْبِطُ مِنْ خَشْـيَةِ اللّٰهِ) 2. Al-Baqarah:74) and some fall down from the fear of Allah. Another hadith proves that ants glorify Allah, similarly, the trunk against which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to deliver sermons, when a wooden pulpit was made and he ﷺ left it, the sound of weeping like a child was heard from it (Bukhari No. 3583). In Makkah, there was a stone that used to greet the Messenger ﷺ (Sahih Muslim. 1782). From these verses and authentic hadith, it is clear that even inanimate objects and plants possess a specific kind of consciousness, which, though we may not understand, but on the basis of that consciousness, they glorify Allah. Some say that what is meant is the glorification of indication, i.e., these things indicate that the Creator of the entire universe and the One capable over everything is only Allah Almighty. "And in everything there is a sign for Him, indicating that He is One." Everything indicates that Allah Almighty is One, but the correct view is the first one, that glorification is in its real meaning.

44. The seven heavens and the earth and all that is in them glorify Him [54]; and there is nothing that does not glorify Him with His praise. But you do not understand their glorification. He is Most Forbearing, Most Forgiving.

[54]
The Literal Meaning of ﴿سَبَحَ﴾:

The literal meaning of ﴿سَبَحَ﴾ is for something to float in air or water and to pass swiftly (Mufradat al-Quran). Then, this word began to be used for performing any task with speed, as in the Divine statement: ﴿اِنَّ لَكَ فِي النَّهَارِ سَبْحًا طَوِيْلًا﴾ [7: 72] (During the day, you have many occupations). The word "Subhan" is the verbal noun (masdar) of "sabh," just as "ghufran" is from "ghafara," and it contains an element of emphasis. In this universe, millions and billions of planets are revolving in space with great speed, in which there is neither any slip, nor sway, nor collision or clash, which makes it clear that the Being controlling them must be extremely firm in decree, planning, and management, and completely free from any kind of mismanagement, defect, or flaw. The action of all things in the universe, under which they are actively engaged according to the prescribed laws of the Managing Being, is called their tasbih, obedience, or worship. In other words, all things in the universe, by their state or action, testify that the Being managing them is free from all kinds of defects and shortcomings. And that can only be one Being. This is the practical tasbih of everything.

The Meaning of the Tasbih of Everything in the Universe:

And the form of verbal tasbih is that the tasbih of humans, jinn, or angels is, in proportion to the level of life, the highest, most effective, and most understandable. The tasbih of animals is less than this, and that of inanimate objects is even less. Since the tasbih of jinn and humans is voluntary, it occurs from time to time, whereas all other things are constantly engaged in tasbih. And when something declares the tasbih of Allah, Allah's mercy descends upon it. The clearer the tasbih of a creature, the greater the descent of mercy will be. This explanation is supported by the hadith in which the Prophet ﷺ once broke a branch into two twigs and placed them on a grave and said that as long as these do not dry out, it is hoped that the punishment will be lessened for them. [بخاری، کتاب الوضوء، باب من الکبائر، ان لایستتر من بولہ]
That is, the tasbih of a fresh twig is more effective and understandable than that of a dry twig, and accordingly, the descent of mercy upon it will be greater than upon a dry twig. The benefit of this mercy for the deceased will be that the punishment of the grave will be reduced.