Instructions Regarding Tasbih
① Narrated by Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
كلمتان خفيفتان على اللسان ثقيلتان فى الميزان حبيبتان إلى الرحمن: سبحان الله وبحمده سبحان الله العظيم
“Two words are light on the tongue, heavy on the scale, and beloved to the Most Merciful: سبحان الله وبحمده سبحان الله العظيم.”
② Sayyiduna Sa’d bin Abi Waqqas (RA) narrates, we were present in the company of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) when he said:
أيعجز أحدكم أن يكسب كل يوم ألف حسنة
“Can any one of you earn one thousand good deeds every day?”
One of his companions asked: How can any one of us earn one thousand good deeds?
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
يسبح مائة تسبيحة فيكتب له ألف حسنة أو تحط عنه ألف خطيئة
“Whoever says SubhanAllah one hundred times, one thousand good deeds will be recorded for him or one thousand sins will be erased from him.”
③ Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (RA) narrates, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
من قال حين يصبح وحين يمسي: سبحان الله وبحمده مائة مرة لم يأت أحد يوم القيامة بأفضل مما جاء به إلا أحد قال مثل ما قال أو زاد عليه
“Whoever recites سبحان الله وبحمده one hundred times in the morning and evening, no one will bring a better deed than his on the Day of Resurrection except the one who has recited the same or more than that.”
④ Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (RA) narrates, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
ألا أخبرك بأحب الكلام إلى الله؟ إن أحب الكلام إلى الله سبحان الله وبحمده
“Shall I not tell you the most beloved words to Allah? سبحان الله و بحمده is His most beloved speech.”
⑤ Sayyida Umm al-Mu’minin Juwayriyah (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) left her early in the morning until he performed the Fajr prayer while she was still at her prayer place. Then he came after the forenoon while she was still sitting, and he said:
ما زلت على الحال التى فارقتك عليها؟
“Are you still in the same state in which I left you?”
She said: “Yes!”
Then the Noble Prophet (ﷺ) said:
لقد قلت بعدك أربع كلمات ثلاث مرات لو وزنت بما قلت منذ اليوم لوزنتهن: سبحان الله وبحمده عدد خلقه ورضا نفسه وزنة عرشه ومداد كلماته
“I have said after you four words three times, and if these are weighed against what you have said since morning, they will be heavier: Allah is pure with His praise, equal to the number of His creation, equal to His own pleasure, equal to the weight of His Throne, and equal to the brightness of His words.”
⑥ Sayyiduna Jabir (RA) narrates, the Noble Prophet (ﷺ) said:
من قال سبحان الله العظيم وبحمده غرست له نخلة فى الجنة
“Whoever recites سبحان الله العظيم وبحمده will have a date palm tree planted for him in Paradise.”
Instructions Regarding Subhan Allah, Alhamdulillah, and Allahu Akbar
① It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the emigrant poor came to the presence of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and said: The wealthy have attained high ranks and everlasting blessings; they also pray and fast like us, but they have wealth with which they perform Hajj, Umrah, Jihad, and give charity. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
ألا أعلمكم شيئا تدركون به من سبقكم وتسبقون من بعدكم ولا يكون أحد أفضل منكم إلا من صنع مثل ما صنعتم؟
“Shall I not tell you of an action by which you will attain what people have surpassed you in, and you will surpass those who come after you, and no one will be superior to you except the one who does the same as you?”
They said: “Why not, O Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)!”
He (peace be upon him) said:
تسبحون وتحمدون وتكبرون خلف كل صلاة ثلاثا وثلاثين
“After every prayer, say SubhanAllah thirty-three times, Alhamdulillah thirty-three times, and Allahu Akbar thirty-three times.”
② Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
من سبح الله فى دبر كل صلاة ثلاثا وثلاثين وحمد الله ثلاثا وثلاثين وكبر الله ثلاثا وثلاثين فتلك تسعة وتسعون وقال تمام المائة: لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له له الملك وله الحمد وهو على كل شيء قدير غفرت خطاياه وإن كانت مثل زبد البحر
“Whoever says after every prayer thirty-three times SubhanAllah, thirty-three times Alhamdulillah, and thirty-three times Allahu Akbar, and then to complete one hundred says:
لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له له الملك وله الحمد وهو على كل شيء قدير
There is no deity except Allah, He is One, He has no partner, His is the dominion, all praise is for Him, and He is capable of all things,
then his sins, even if they are like the foam of the sea, will be forgiven.”
③ And he also narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
لأن أقول: سبحان الله والحمد لله ولا إله إلا الله والله أكبر أحب إلى مما طلعت عليه الشمس
“Saying these words سبحان الله والحمد لله ولا إله إلا الله والله أكبر (Allah is Pure, all praise is for Him, there is no deity except Allah, and He is the Greatest) is more beloved to me than all the things of the world.”
④ Sayyiduna Ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
لقيت إبراهيم ليلة أسري بي فقال: يا محمد أقرئ أمتك مني السلام وأخبرهم أن الجنة طيبة التربة عذبة الماء وأنها قيعان وأن غراسها: سبحان الله والحمد لله ولا إله إلا الله والله أكبر
“On the night of Mi’raj, I met Ibrahim (peace be upon him), and he said: O Muhammad (peace be upon him)! Convey my greetings to your Ummah and tell them that the soil of Paradise is very fertile, its water is sweet, it is a lush plain, and سبحان الله والحمد لله ولا إله إلا الله والله أكبر is planting trees there.”
Instructions Regarding Saying Alhamdulillah
① Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
إن الله عز وجل ليرضى عن العبد أن يأكل الأكلة فيحمده عليها ويشرب الشربة فيحمده عليها
“Allah, the Exalted, is pleased with His servant when he eats food and drinks water and then thanks and praises Allah.”
② Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (RA) narrates from the Prophet (PBUH) that he said:
كل أمر ذي بال لا يبدأ فيه بالحمد لله فهو أقطع
“Every important deed which is not begun with Alhamdulillah is incomplete and cut off.”