
''Tasbih'' ( ar, تَسْبِيح, ) is a form of ''
dhikr'' that involves the glorification of
Allah
Allah (; ar, الله, translit=Allāh, ) is the common Arabic word for God. In the English language, the word generally refers to God in Islam. The word is thought to be derived by contraction from '' al- ilāh'', which means "the god", an ...
in
Islam
Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic Monotheism#Islam, monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God in Islam, God (or ...
by saying: ''"Subhan Allah"'' (; lit. "Glory be to God").
It is often repeated a certain number of times, using either the
phalanges
The phalanges (singular: ''phalanx'' ) are digital bones in the hands and feet of most vertebrates. In primates, the thumbs and big toes have two phalanges while the other digits have three phalanges. The phalanges are classed as long bones.
...
of the right hand or a ''
misbaha'' to keep track of counting.
Etymology
The term ''tasbeeh'' is based on in the Arabic root of
sīn-
bāʾ-
ḥāʾ (--). The meaning of the root word when written means to glorify. 'Tasbeeh' is an irregular derivation from ''subhan'', which is the first word of the constitutive sentence of the first third of the canonical form (see below) of tasbeeh. The word literally means, as a verb, "to travel swiftly" and, as a noun, "duties" or "occupation". However, in the devotional context, ''tasbih'' refers to ''Subhan Allah'', which is often used in the Qur'an with the preposition ''ʿan'' (), meaning "God is devoid
f what they (polytheists) attribute to Him">polytheists.html" ;"title="f what they (polytheists">f what they (polytheists) attribute to Him (Al-Tawba: 31, Al-Zumar: 67 et al.). Without this preposition, it means something like "Glory be to God."
Interpretation
The phrase translates to "Glory be to God" but a more literal translation is, "God is above [all things]". The root of the word subḥān () is derived from the word sabaḥa (, "to be above"), giving the phrase a meaning that God is above any imperfection or false descriptions.
The phrase often has the connotation of praising God for his total perfection, implying a rejection of any
anthropomorphic
Anthropomorphism is the attribution of human traits, emotions, or intentions to non-human entities. It is considered to be an innate tendency of human psychology.
Personification is the related attribution of human form and characteristics t ...
elements or associations with God, or any attribution of mistakes or faults to him. Thus, it serves as testimony to God's transcendence (, ''tanzīh'').
For example, the
Quran says ''subḥāna llāhi ʿammā yaṣifūn'' ("God is above that which they describe") and ''subḥāna llāhi ʿammā yušrikūn'' ("God is above that which they associate with him").
The phrase is mentioned in the
hadiths of
Sahih Bukhari, VBN 5, 57, 50.
Variants
Various Islamic phrases include the Tasbih, most commonly:
Usage
It is also often cited during the Islamic prayer (
salat
(, plural , romanized: or Old Arabic ͡sˤaˈloːh, ( or Old Arabic ͡sˤaˈloːtʰin construct state) ), also known as ( fa, نماز) and also spelled , are prayers performed by Muslims. Facing the , the direction of the Kaaba wit ...
), supplication (
dua), during a sermon (
khutba) in the
mosque and commonly throughout the day. It is sometimes used to express shock or amazement.
Muslims are also encouraged to say the phrase 33 times after prayer and throughout the day. Muhammad taught Muslims that it is one of the four praises that God likes Muslims to say continuously.
Fatimah bint Muhammad

In the early years of the marriage of
Ali and
Fatimah, Ali earned very little money and was unable to afford a servant for Fatimah. Fatimah's hands were blistered from constant grinding; her neck had become sore from carrying water; her clothes had become dirty from sweeping the floor.
One day Ali was aware that Muhammad had some servants, and advised Fatimah to ask him for one of his servants. Fatimah went, but she was unable to ask. Finally, Ali went with Fatimah to Muhammad's house. He did not accept their request, saying "there are many orphans (starved), I must sell these servants to feed them".
Then Muhammad said "I will give you one thing better than helping of servant". He taught them a special manner of Dhikr which is known as the "tasbih of Fatimah".
# 34 repetitions of
ʾallāhu ʾakbar (), meaning "God is Greater
han everything. This saying is known as
Takbir ().
# 33 repetitions of
al-ḥamdu lillāh (), meaning "All praise is due to God.". This saying is known as
Tahmid ().
# 33 repetitions of
subḥāna -llah (), meaning "Glorified is God". This saying is known as Tasbih ().
See also
*
Tasbih of Fatimah
*
Tahmid
**
Al-hamdu lillahi rabbil 'alamin
*
Tahlil
*
Takbir
*
Tasmiyah
*
Salawat
''Salawat'' ( ar, صَلَوَات, ' ''salat''; also referred to as ''divine blessings on Muhammad'', ''durood shareef'' or ''durood-e-Ibrahim'') is an Islamic complimentary Arabic phrase, which contains the salutation upon Muhammad. This ph ...
*
Peace be upon him
*
Shahadah
*
Hallelujah
''Hallelujah'' ( ; he, ''haləlū-Yāh'', meaning "praise Yah") is an interjection used as an expression of gratitude to God. The term is used 24 times in the Hebrew Bible (in the book of Psalms), twice in deuterocanonical books, and four tim ...
References
Further reading
* Dubin, L. S. (2009). "Prayer Beads". In C. Kenney (Ed.), ''The History of Beads: From 100,000 B.C. to the Present''. Revised and Expanded Edition. New York: Abrams Publishing. pp. 79–92.
* Henry, G., & Marriott, S. (2008). ''Beads of Faith: Pathways to Meditation and Spirituality Using Rosaries, Prayer Beads and Sacred Words''. Fons Vitae Publishing.
* Untracht, O. (2008). "Rosaries of India". In H. Whelchel (ed.), ''Traditional Jewelry of India''. New York:
Thames & Hudson
Thames & Hudson (sometimes T&H for brevity) is a publisher of illustrated books in all visually creative categories: art, architecture, design, photography, fashion, film, and the performing arts. It also publishes books on archaeology, history, ...
. pp. 69–73.
* Wiley, E., & Shannon, M. O. (2002). ''A String and a Prayer: How to Make and Use Prayer Beads''. Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC.
External links
History of Prayer Beads: Islamic SubhaHistory of the Tasbih in IranHistory of the Tasbih in IranMuslim Prayer BeadsRosaries of India: Muslim MisbahaSouvenir Tasbih Cantik
{{Characters and names in the Quran
Prayer beads
Salah
Salah terminology
Arabic words and phrases
Islamic terminology
Sunni Islam
Shia Islam