SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi: two minutes, a sea of forgiveness

A short phrase that takes about a minute to say a hundred times. The Prophet ﷺ described its reward in several authentic hadiths.

Whoever says SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi a hundred times a day, his sins are wiped away even if they are like the foam of the sea.

Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim

Two words are light on the tongue, heavy on the scale and beloved to the Most Merciful: SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi, SubhanAllahil-Azim.

Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim

The meaning

SubhanAllah declares Allah free of every flaw and imperfection. Wa bihamdihi adds praise for all His perfect qualities. Together they are complete remembrance: negating every deficiency and affirming every perfection.

Make it a habit

• Say it 100 times in the morning or evening. It is part of the morning athkar.
• Use idle moments: waiting for the bus, in the queue, before sleeping.
• Count with your fingers or the Hadaff tasbeeh counter.

Another treasure: La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah (there is no power and no strength except with Allah), which the Prophet ﷺ called a treasure from the treasures of Paradise (al-Bukhari, Muslim).

More habit guides

• Make dua daily
• Sunnah before sleep
• Gratitude (shukr)
• Fast Mondays and Thursdays
• The white days
• Six days of Shawwal
• Arafah and Ashura
• Daily sadaqah
• All habits