Section 7: Meaning Of The Dhikr
1. The Lofty Meaning Of The Tasbih Of Fatimah Az-Zahra’ ('A)
Imam Ja’far Ibn Muhammad as-Sadiq ('a) has said that, “The tasbih of Fatimah Az-Zahra’ ('a) includes (in its’ meanings):
• Pure is the Possessor of Glory who is the Proud and Exalted;
• Pure is the Possessor of Nobility who has a lofty station and grand status;
• Pure is the Possessor of the Dominion who has Honour and Precedence;
• Pure is the Possessor of Virtue and Beauty;
• Pure is the One who has decorated Himself with the celestial light (an-Nur), immensity and dignity;
• Pure is the One who is able to see the imprints of the ant on a clean, transparent stone, and who can see the flying of the birds on the top of the trees and upon the delicate flowers.”
2. The Meaning Of ‘Allah Is The Greatest’
2. The Meaning of ‘Allah is the Greatest’ – Allahu Akbar [أللّٰه أّكْبَرُ]
• Allah is superior and greater than what we can think or suppose of Him;
• Allah is greater than everything in existence;
• Allah is superior to all creations which can be sensed, which our intelligence can discern, and all that which is within the world and the universe.
Imam Ja’far Ibn Muhammad as-Sadiq ('a) has said, “At the time when you say the takbir [saying of Allahu Akbar] to start your Salat, everything else in existence should seem small and trivial in your sight except for Him.”
By saying the phrase, ‘Allahu Akbar’, the greatness of Allah is increased within ourselves and we are able to reach the loftiest of stations.
If at anytime during the course of our Salat, we are able to taste and experience the sweetness and purity of our intimate whispers (munajat) to Allah (SWT), then we should know that our takbir has been accepted and that it has indeed confirmed (the status of) Allah, the Most High.
The words, ‘Allahu Akbar’, are the same words which a new born Muslim child hears for the first time in the adhan and iqamah; and are also the last words which a person will hear when one dies in the talqin [the words recited to the deceased in which the articles of faith are read to him].
The words, ‘Allahu Akbar’, are the first and only dhikr in the Salat which are obligatory and a part of the rukn (foundation) of the Salat.
3. The Meaning Of ‘All Praise Belongs To Allah’
3. The Meaning of ‘All Praise Belongs to Allah’ - Alhamdulillah [أَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ]
This line means that all Praise and Glory are reserved for Allah (SWT) alone – the One who nurtures the entire universe.
By saying this line, the feeling of thanking Him is brought to life within our soul. Speaking this dhikr removes any sort of negligence or inattention we may have within us and causes us to remember the blessings which we have been given and we are able to take notice and remind ourselves of the Lordship of Allah (SWT).
In the Qur’an, there are almost one hundred names mentioned for Allah (SWT), however the name ‘Allah’ is the most comprehensive of all of these.
In the word, al-Hamd, in addition to the meaning of praise and glory belonging solely to Allah (SWT), there is also a hidden meaning of true and sincere worship.
4. The Meaning Of ‘Sanctified Is Allah’
4. The Meaning of ‘Sanctified is Allah’ - Subhana Allah [سْبْحٰانَ اللّٰهِ]
Imam Ja’far Ibn Muhammad as-Sadiq ('a) was once asked about the meaning of this phrase to which he replied: “It means that He is Pure and transcends all things which can be thought about Him.”
5. Words Of The Prophet (S)
The Noble Prophet (S) was asked by Talha Ibn ‘Abdullah about the meaning of ‘Subhana Allah’ and the Prophet (S) replied: “It means to testify that Allah transcends all things which are unworthy of being thought (about Him).”
6. Reward Of The Tasbih
The Commander of the Faithful, ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib ('a) has stated that, “All of the Angels send prayers and salutations upon a person who says ‘Subhana Allah’ one time and the reward for this glorification of Allah is not known to anyone except Allah.”
In the book, ‘Uddatul Da’i, it has been mentioned that Imam Ja’far Ibn Muhammad as-Sadiq ('a) said: “The army of Prophet Sulayman was made up of birds whose number covered the distance of 624 square kilometres; wild beasts whose number covered the total area of 156 square kilometres; and human beings whose number covered a total of 31.2 square kilometres. The Jinn had woven a carpet of gold and pure silk for Sulayman which measured 12.48 square kilometres and placed a mimbar (pulpit) upon the carpet for Sulayman to sit on.
Around the mimbar - which was made of gold and silver – there were many other chairs of gold and silver where various other prophets were sitting on.
There were birds which were flying above Sulayman with their wings stretched out, touching one another, so that the rays of the sun would not shine on the head of Sulayman. In addition, Allah also gave Sulayman the power to control the wind which enabled his carpet to go wherever he wished for it to go. It was upon this carpet that he travelled for two straight months, just as Allah has mentioned in the Qur’an:
وَلِسُلَيْمَانَ الرِّيحَ غُدُوُّهَا شَهْرٌ وَرَوَاحُهَا شَهْرٌ
“And (We made) the wind (subservient) to Sulayman, which made a month’s journey in the morning and a month’s journey in the evening.” (Surah Saba, 34:12).
One day, the wind was carrying the grand and noble carpet of Sulayman; and on the ground, there was a peasant who was standing in his fields, who looked up and said, “Glory be to Allah [Subhana Allah]! What a great kingdom Allah has given to the son of Dawud!”
The wind carried the words of the farmer to the ears of Sulayman and immediately, Sulayman ordered the rug to land on the ground. The prophet of Allah Sulayman went to the farmer and said to him:
“One glorification which a servant does (in praise of Allah) and that Allah accepts is better than all that which has been given to the family of Dawud!”
In another narration, it has been mentioned that saying one ‘Subhana Allah’ is better than giving a mountain of silver as charity in the way of Allah (SWT).
In summary, this ‘Subhana Allah’ has many benefits and merits attached to it which are mentioned in the ahadith1.
7. Greetings Of The Angels
In reply to a question which was asked to him about the meaning of ‘Subhana Allah’, the Commander of the Faithful, ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib ('a) replied that it meant: “Allah is Great and of high status, the Possessor of nobility and greatness who is free from all defects and from all those things which the polytheists may say about Him. Anytime a servant of Allah says this phrase, all of the Angels immediately send prayers and salutations upon that person.”2
8. Benefits Of The Tasbih Of Subhana Allah
6. Benefits of the Tasbih of Subhana Allah [سْبْحٰانَ اللّٰهِ]
In the book, al-Amali of Shaykh Saduq, it has been narrated from Imam Ja’far Ibn Muhammad as-Sadiq ('a) that he said, “Allah will remove seventy types of difficulties from a person who says ‘Subhana Allah’ thirty times every day – the most minimum of these difficulties is poverty. The second benefit is that the person will be saved from grief, sorrow and a fatal death, just as we see that the reason for the safety of Prophet Yunus when he was in the belly of the whale was because of him reciting:
سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
“Glory be to you (Allah), surely I was from amongst those who were unjust (to themselves).” (Surat al-Anbiya, 21:87).
Due to this, Allah (SWT)i saved him, just as He has said:
... فَاسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُ وَنَجَّيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْغَمِّ ۚ
The Imam ('a) then said:
فَلَوْ لاٌ أَنَّهُ كََانَ مِنَ لْـمُسَبِّحِينَ لَلَبِثَ فِي بَطْنِهِ إِلـى يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ.
“Thus had he (Yunus) not been one of those who glorified (Allah), then surely he would have remained in the stomach of the fish until the Day of Resurrection (so it is through his glorification that he was saved from grief and sorrow).”
9. A Tree In Paradise
In another narration it has been mentioned that if a person says ‘Subhana Allah’ then a tree is planted for him in Paradise and when he says ‘Wal Hamdulillah’ then another tree is planted for him in Paradise.
May Allah (SWT) give us all the tawfiq to recite this great tasbih with the understanding that it deserves.
