Tasbih (Glorification)

Tasbih (Arabic: تسبيح) is the act of saying "SubhanAllah" (سبحان الله), which means "Glory be to Allah" or "Exalted is Allah." Tasbih declares Allah's perfection and His transcendence above any deficiency, weakness, or that which is unjustly attributed to Him.

The Quran encourages tasbih: "Glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High" (Surah Al-A'la 87:1). And: "Everything in the heavens and on the earth glorifies Allah" (Surah Al-Hashr 59:1). During ruku in prayer, the worshipper says "Subhana Rabbi al-Azim" (Glorified is my Lord, the Almighty), and during sujud "Subhana Rabbi al-A'la" (Glorified is my Lord, the Most High).

The word "tasbih" is also used for the prayer beads (misbaha or subha), used to keep count of dhikr repetitions. In Shia tradition, the tasbih beads are typically made from Karbala clay (turbah beads) and have 34 beads, corresponding to the number of "Allahu Akbar" in Tasbihat al-Zahra. Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said about the tasbih beads: "Holding them in the hand is rewarded, even without counting" (Wasail al-Shia, vol. 6).

Tasbih is one of the three fundamental forms of dhikr along with tahmid (Alhamdulillah) and takbir (Allahu Akbar). Together they constitute Tasbihat al-Zahra, which is recited after every obligatory prayer. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: "Two words are light on the tongue, heavy on the scale, and beloved to the Most Gracious: SubhanAllahi wa bihamdih, SubhanAllahil-Azim" (narrated in Al-Kafi and in Sahih al-Bukhari). Tasbih is a constant connection between the believer and Allah.