''Tasbih'' ( ar, تَسْبِيح, ) is a form of ''
dhikr
''Dhikr'' ( ar, ذِكْر}, , also spelled ''Zikr'', ''Thikr'', ''Zekr'', or ''Zikar'', literally meaning "remembrance, reminder" or "mention") is a form of Islamic meditation in which phrases or prayers are repeatedly chanted in order to remem ...
'' that involves the glorification of
Allah in
Islam by saying: ''"Subhan Allah"'' (; lit. "Glory be to God").
It is often repeated a certain number of times, using either the
phalanges of the right hand or a ''
misbaha
A ''Misbaha'' ( ar, مِسْبَحَة, misbaḥa), ''subḥa'' ( ar, سُبْحَة, links=no) (Arabic, Kurdish and Urdu), ''tasbīḥ'' ( ar, تَسْبِيح, links=no) (Iran, India, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan), or ''tesp ...
'' to keep track of counting.
Etymology
The term ''tasbeeh'' is based on in the Arabic root of
sīn
Shin (also spelled Šin (') or Sheen) is the twenty-first letter of the Semitic abjads, including Phoenician Shin , Hebrew Shin , Aramaic Shin , Syriac Shin ܫ, and Arabic Shin (in abjadi order, 13th in modern order).
Its sound value is a voice ...
-
bāʾ-
ḥāʾ
Heth, sometimes written Chet, but more accurately Ḥet, is the eighth letter of the Semitic abjads, including Phoenician Ḥēt 𐤇 , Hebrew Ḥēth , Aramaic Ḥēth , Syriac Ḥēṯ ܚ, Arabic Ḥā' , and Maltese Ħ, ħ.
Heth origina ...
(--). 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.html" ;"title="polytheists.html" ;"title="f what they (polytheists">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 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
The Quran (, ; Standard Arabic: , Quranic Arabic: , , 'the recitation'), also romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a revelation from God. It is organized in 114 chapters (pl.: , s ...
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
hadith
Ḥadīth ( or ; ar, حديث, , , , , , , literally "talk" or "discourse") or Athar ( ar, أثر, , literally "remnant"/"effect") refers to what the majority of Muslims believe to be a record of the words, actions, and the silent approva ...
s of
Sahih Bukhari
Sahih al-Bukhari ( ar, صحيح البخاري, translit=Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī), group=note is a ''hadith'' collection and a book of '' sunnah'' compiled by the Persian scholar Muḥammad ibn Ismā‘īl al-Bukhārī (810–870) around 846. Al ...
, VBN 5, 57, 50.
Variants
Various Islamic phrases include the Tasbih, most commonly:
Usage
It is also often cited during the Islamic prayer (
salat), supplication (
dua
In Islam, ( ar, دعاء , plural: ' ) is a prayer of invocation, supplication or request, even asking help or assistance from God.
Role in Islam
Muslims regard this as a profound act of worship. Muhammad is reported to have said ...
), during a sermon (
khutba
''Khutbah'' ( ar, خطبة ''khuṭbah'', tr, hutbe) serves as the primary formal occasion for public preaching in the Islamic tradition.
Such sermons occur regularly, as prescribed by the teachings of all legal schools. The Islamic tradition ...
) in the
mosque
A mosque (; from ar, مَسْجِد, masjid, ; literally "place of ritual prostration"), also called masjid, is a place of prayer for Muslims. Mosques are usually covered buildings, but can be any place where prayers ( sujud) are performed, ...
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
ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib ( ar, عَلِيّ بْن أَبِي طَالِب; 600 – 661 CE) was the last of four Rightly Guided Caliphs to rule Islam (r. 656 – 661) immediately after the death of Muhammad, and he was the first Shia Imam ...
and
Fatimah
Fāṭima bint Muḥammad ( ar, فَاطِمَة ٱبْنَت مُحَمَّد}, 605/15–632 CE), commonly known as Fāṭima al-Zahrāʾ (), was the daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and his wife Khadija. Fatima's husband was Ali, ...
, 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
The Takbir ( ar, تَكْبِير, , "magnification f God) is the name for the Arabic phrase ' (, ), meaning "God is the greatest".
It is a common Arabic expression, used in various contexts by Muslims and Arabs around the world: in formal Salah ...
().
# 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
The Tasbih of Fatimah ( ar, تَسْبِيح فَاطِمَة), commonly known as "Tasbih Hadhrat Zahra" or "Tasbih al-Zahra" ( ar, تَسْبِيح ٱلزَّهْرَاء), is a special kind of Dhikr which is attributed to Fatimah bint Muhammad, ...
*
Tahmid
**
Al-hamdu lillahi rabbil 'alamin
Al-Fatiha (alternatively transliterated Al-Fātiḥa or Al-Fātiḥah; ar, ألْفَاتِحَة, ; ), is the first ''surah'' (chapter) of the Quran. It consists of 7 '' ayah'' (verses) which are a prayer for guidance and mercy. Al-Fatiha i ...
*
Tahlil
The Tahlil ( ar, تَهْلِيل, ', ), also spelled Tahleel, is a form of dhikr that involves the praising of God in Islam by saying (), meaning "There is none worthy of worship except Allah".
Etymology
The word ''Tahlil'' is the verbal noun ...
*
Takbir
The Takbir ( ar, تَكْبِير, , "magnification f God) is the name for the Arabic phrase ' (, ), meaning "God is the greatest".
It is a common Arabic expression, used in various contexts by Muslims and Arabs around the world: in formal Salah ...
*
Tasmiyah
*
Salawat
*
Peace be upon him
Islam uses a number of conventionally complimentary phrases praising Allah (e.g., ), or wishing good things upon Muhammad or other prophets (e.g., ). These phrases are encompassed by a number of terms: Prayers upon Muhammad may be referred to s ...
*
Shahada
The ''Shahada'' ( Arabic: ٱلشَّهَادَةُ , "the testimony"), also transliterated as ''Shahadah'', is an Islamic oath and creed, and one of the Five Pillars of Islam and part of the Adhan. It reads: "I bear witness that there i ...
h
*
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. 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