Sat 9th Shawwaal 1439/23rd Jun 2018-06-23
Lesson 14: The Best of Speech and Remembrance after the Qur’an
- The best of Speech and Remembrance after the Qur’an itself are 4 statements:
- Subhannallaah
- Alhamdulillaah
- Laa Ilaaha Illallaah
- Allaahu Akbar
- Indeed there have been many texts and evidences in the Qur’an and the Sunnah regarding the greatness of these 4 statements
- These statements are the most beloved of speech to Allah
- Abu Hurairah [may Allah be pleased with him] narrated that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “That I should say: ‘Glory is to Allah (Subḥān Allāh).’ ‘All praise is due to Allah (Al-ḥamdulillāh),’ ‘None has the right to be worshipped but Allah (Lā ilāha illallāh),’ and ‘Allah is the greatest (Allāhu akbar)’ is more beloved to me than all that the sun has risen over.” [At-Tirmidhi]
- It was narrated that Umm Hani’ said: “I came to the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, tell me of a (good) deed, for I have become old and weak and overweight.’ He said: ‘Proclaim the greatness of Allah (say Allahu Akbar) one hundred times, praise Allah (say Al-Hamdu Lillah) one hundred times, and glorify Allah (say Subhan-Allah) one hundred (That is) better than one hundred horses bridled and saddled for the sake of Allah, better than one hundred sacrificial camels, and better than (freeing) one hundred slaves.’” [Sunan Ibn Majah]
- Saying these statements expiate your (minor) sins
- Abu Huraira reported: Verily the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: The five (daily) prayers and from one Friday prayer to the (next) Friday prayer, and from Ramadhan to Ramadhan are expiations for the (sins) committed in between (their intervals) provided one shuns the major sins. [Sahih Muslim]
- Major sins can only be expiated with repentance
- Anas ibn Malik narrated that: the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) passed by a tree with dry leaves, so he struck it with his staff, making the leaves fall. Then he said: “Indeed, ‘all praise is due to Allah, (Al-Ḥamdulillāh)’ ‘glory to Allah, (Subḥān Allāh)’ ‘none has the right to be worshipped by Allah, (Lā Ilāha Illallāh)’ and ‘Allah is the greatest (Allāhu Akbar)’ cause the sins to fall from the worshipper, just as the leaves of this tree fall.” [At-Tirmidhi]
- Allah has selected these words and favoured them
- These words protect from the fire. They will come on the day of judgement as saviours for those who used to be upon the remembrance of Allah
The statement: “Subhaanallaah”
- It is mentioned more than 80 times in the Qur’an to say Subhaanallaah
- Sometimes Allah directly commands us to say Subhaanallaah, e.g. “O you who believe! Remember Allah with much remembrance. And glorify His Praises morning and afternoon [the early morning (Fajr) and ‘Asr prayers]. [Surah 33 Al-Ahzaab (The Confederates) v. 41-42 ]
- In the Qur’an 8 Chapters begin with the tasbeeh of Allah [e.g. Surah Isra (The Journey by Night)]
- Subhaanallaah is mentioned in approx 30 different ways in the Qur’an:
- 6 in relation to the Angles
- 9 regarding the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم)
- 4 by the other Prophets and Messengers
- 3 talking about animals and Inanimate objects
- 3 times about the Believers
- 6 times about all of the Creation
- Everything in the heavens and earth glorifies Allah, this shows us therefore how great this statement is
- Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle said, “Whoever says, ‘Subhan Allah wa bihamdihi,’ one hundred times a day, will be forgiven all his sins even if they were as much as the foam of the sea. [Sahih al-Bukhari]
- Mus’ab b. Sa’d reported that his father told him that he had been in the company of Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) that he said: Is one amongst you powerless to get one thousand virtues every day. Amongst those who had been sitting there, one asked: How one amongst us can get one thousand virtues every day? He said: Recite: “Subhaanallaah” one hundred times for (by reciting them) one thousand virtues are recorded (to your credit) and one tbousand vices are blotted out. [Sahih Muslim]
- Abu Hurairah narrated that :the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “Whoever says: ‘Glory is to Allah, and with His Praise (Subḥān Allāh, wa biḥamdih)’ a hundred times, his sins are forgiven, even if they were like the foam of the sea.” [at-Tirmidhi]
- Thousand reward
- Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, “(The following are) two words (sentences or utterances) that are very easy for the tongue to say, and very heavy in the balance (of reward), and most beloved to the Gracious Almighty (And they are): Subhan Allahi wa bi-hamdihi; Subhan Allahi-l-‘Adhim,” [Sahih al-Bukhari]
- Jabir narrated that: The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “Whoever says: ‘Glory is to Allah, the Magnificent, and with His Praise (Subḥān Allāhil-Aẓīm, wa biḥamdih)’ a date-palm tree is planted for him in Paradise.” [Jami` at-Tirmidhi]
- Narrated `Abdullah: We used to consider miracles as Allah’s Blessings, but you people consider them to be a warning. Once we were with Allah’s Apostle on a journey, and we ran short of water. He said, “Bring the water remaining with you.” The people brought a utensil containing a little water. He placed his hand in it and said, “Come to the blessed water, and the Blessing is from Allah.” I saw the water flowing from among the fingers of Allah’s Apostle , and no doubt, we heard the meal glorifying Allah, when it was being eaten (by him). [Sahih al-Bukhari]
- What is the meaning of Subhaanallaah?
- Translate directly usually as “Glory be to Allah”
- However this is not fully accurate
- In reality it means that Allah does not have any imperfection or shortcoming, he is the mighty and majestic far above and removed and free from any imperfection.
The statement: Alhamdulillaah
- Abu Malik Al-Ash’ari (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “Purity is half of iman (faith). ‘Al-hamdu lillah (all praise and gratitude belong to Allah)’ fills the scales, and ‘subhan-Allah (how far is Allah from every imperfection) and ‘Al-hamdulillah (all praise and gratitude belong to Allah)’ fill that which is between heaven and earth.” [Muslim]
General Note
- Abdullah bin Busr (ra) narrated that: A man said: “O Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم), indeed, the legislated acts of Islam have become too much for me, so inform me of a thing that I should stick to.” He (saws) said: “Let not your tongue cease to be moist with the remembrance of Allah.” [Jami` at-Tirmidhi]
- Always being upon the remembering Allah is a means of protection against the fire as well as the difficulties of life. If you are regular in this you will see the impact on your life.
- The one who is negligent of the remembrance of Allah will be far with his connection to Allah
Q&A:
- What if people tell you to perform dhikr (remembrance) which is unconfirmed (e.g. Whatsapp message saying to do 200 subhanallaah after Asr or 300 after Maghrib or on a specific night etc). Answer= Many people spread innovation this way, Always ask for reference; do not accept until authenticity confirmed that it is from the Sunnah.
Homework: find the 8 Chapters of the Qur’an that begin with Tasbeeh, with references.