The Original Meaning of Glorification (Tasbih) in Islamic Sharia
Selections from the Book The Story of The Beginning of Creation and The Creation of Adam, peace be upon him …
Written by Dr. Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi...
Episode (58)
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, explained the meaning of glorification in several hadiths. Additionally, numerous reports about its meaning have been narrated from some of the Companions and the Followers, may Allah be pleased with them and have mercy on them. Many statements from scholars, both early and later generations, also provide insight into its meaning. Among the hadiths that clarify the meaning of glorification are:
The hadith of Talhah ibn Ubaydullah, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: "I asked the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, about the explanation of Subhan Allah (Glory be to Allah), and he said: 'It is to declare that Allah, Blessed and Exalted, is free from all evil.'"
- The hadith of Ibrahim ibn Yazid al-Taymi, from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, who said: "Subhan Allah (Glory be to Allah) means that Allah refrains from every form of evil."
The hadith of Musa ibn Talhah, who said: "The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was asked about tasbih, and he said: 'It is declaring that He (Allah) is free from all evil.'"
These hadiths, when taken together, are strong enough to serve as evidence. Although the first one is weak, the latter two are strong; however, both of them are mursal (hadiths with a missing link in the chain of narrators).
A mursal hadith, when supported by another chain of transmission—whether musnad (a hadith with an unbroken chain) or another mursal—serves as evidence of its authenticity, and the argument based on it becomes stronger.
What these hadiths convey regarding the interpretation of tasbih in Islamic Sharia, as declaring Allah's transcendence from any imperfection, is supported by the hadith of Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman, may Allah be pleased with him. He prayed with the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, one night, and the Prophet recited the Holy Quran in a measured pace. Whenever he came across a verse that involved glorification (tasbih), he would say Subhan Allah (glory be to Allah). In another narration, it states that whenever he came across a verse that referred to declaring Allah's transcendence, he would glorify Him.
As for the narrations explaining the meaning of tasbih, they are numerous. Among them is a statement from Ibn Abbas, who said: "Subhan Allah" means declaring Allah's aboveness.
Glorifying Allah (tasbih) entails affirming His transcendence and freeing His essence from all deficiencies and imperfections. It involves declaring His attributes free from any flaw, evil, or blame, and distancing them from any resemblance to the attributes of created beings. It also includes affirming that His actions are free from futility, injustice, evil, and anything contrary to wisdom. Tasbih is the act of declaring Allah's transcendence from all imperfections through belief, worship, and speech. The interpretation of tasbih as declaring Allah free from evil is unanimously agreed upon, both linguistically and in Islamic Sharia.
- Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi, The Story of The Beginning of Creation and The Creation of Adam, peace be upon him, pp. 424-426.
- Tasbih in the Qur’an and Sunnah, Kendo, 1/76.
- Al-Tahrir wal Tanwir, Ibn Ashur, 29/151.
- Al-Tabarani, Book of Supplication, 3/1593, No.: 1759.
- Sahih Sunan Ibn Majah by Al-Albani, No.: 1119.
- Collection of Fatwas, Ibn Taymiyyah, 13/247-350.
For further information and review of the sources for the article, see:
The Book of The Story of The Beginning of Creation and The Creation of Adam, peace be upon him on the official website of Sheikh Dr. Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi:
