Source:
An-Nahj al-Asma Fii Sharh Asma Allahu al-Husna by Shaikh Muhammad an-Najdi
This Noble Name is mentioned in a Hadeeth reported by Muslim on the authority of ‘Aishah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha), who said: “The Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) used to say in his Rukoo’ (bowing) and Sujood (prostration),
سُبُّوحٌ قُدُّوسٌ رَبُّ الملائكةِ والرُّوح
“Subboohun, Quddoosun, Rabbul-Malaa’ikati war-Rooh.”
“The Perfect, the Blessed, the Lord of the Angels and the Spirit.” [Muslim, the book of Salaat]
The meaning of the Name:
Linguistically, Tesbeeh means to free from any defect. Al-Azhari said: “Subhaan-Allaah means to free Allaah from having a son or a wife.”
It is also said: “To free Allaah, the Exalted, from all that is ascribed to Him (of evil or resemblance) and that does not suit His Majesty.” [Lisaan al-Arab]
Abu Ishaaq said: “Subbooh means, ‘the One Who is free of any defect,’ while Quddoos means, ‘the Blessed,’ or ‘the Pure.'” [Lisaan al-Arab]
Ibn Saidah said: “Subbooh and Quddoos (Glorified and Blessed) are Attributes of Allaah, Mighty and Sublime, because He is Glorified and Sanctified by others.” [Lisaan al-Arab]
An-Nawawi (Rahimahullaah) said: “Ibn Faaris, Az-Zabidee and others said, ‘Subbooh is Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala). As-Subbooh and Al-Quddoos mean the One Who is glorified and sanctified, the Pure (or the Blessed). Accordingly, the meaning of the supplication in the Hadeeth is ‘the One Who is Glorified, the Pure (or the Blessed), the Lord of the angels and Spirit.’ Subbooh means the One Who is free from any defect or having a partner, and free from all that does not suit His Divinity. Quddoos refers to the One Who is Pure from all that does not suit the Creator.'” [Explanation of an-Nawawi for Saheeh Muslim]
The impacts of believing in this Noble Name:
1- Allaah, the Exalted, is Free from every defect, fault or evil. To Him belongs the absolute perfection (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala).
2- Allaah, the Majestic, is glorified and sanctified by all who are in the heavens and the earth with different languages and various sounds (or voices).
Allaah (Azza wa Jall) says in Surat al-Isra’ (17:44):
تُسَبِّحُ لَهُ السَّمَوَاتُ السَّبْعُ وَالْأَرْضُ وَمَنْ فِيهنَّ وَإِنْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ إِلَّا يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِهِ وَلَكِنْ لَا تَفْقَهُونَ تَسْبِيحَهُمْ
“The seven heavens and the earth and all that is therein, glorify Him and there is not a thing but glorifies His Praise (Free Him from all kinds of defects and faults). But you understand not their glorification.”
Ibn Katheer (Rahimahullaah) said: “The Creatures that dwell in the seven heavens and the earth sanctify Allaah, exalt Him, venerate Him, glorify Him and magnify Him far above what these idolators say, and they bear witness that He is One in His Lordship and Divinity. Everything signifies that Allaah is One.”
وَإِنْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ إِلَّا يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِهِ
“And there is not a thing but glorifies His Praise.“
There is no created being that does not celebrate the praises of Allaah.
وَلَكِنْ لَا تَفْقَهُونَ تَسْبِيحَهُمْ
“But you understand not their glorification.”
This means, ‘You do not understand them, O mankind, because it is not like your language.’ This applies to all creatures generally, animal, inanimate and botanical. It was reported in Saheeh al-Bukhaari that Ibn Mas’oud (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) said: ‘We used to hear the Tasbeeh of the food as it was being eaten.’
Imaam Ahmad recorded that Mu’adh ibn Anas (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) said that the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) came upon people who were sitting on their mounts and talking to one another. He (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said to them: ‘Ride them safely, then leave them safely. Do not use them as chairs for you to have conversation in the streets and marketplaces, because the one which is ridden may be better than the one who rides it, and may remember Allaah more than he does.'” [Tafseer Ibn Katheer]
Abu Ishaaq az-Zajjaj said: “Everything Allaah has created glorifies His Praises, and the creak of the roof and the door is a kind of Tasbeeh (glorification). In regards to Allaah’s Statement,” “There is not a thing but glorifies His Praise” it means that there is no creature but there is in it a proof that Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala) is its Creator Who is All-Wise, Free of all defects and faults, but the disbelievers do not understand the impact of these proofs in the creation of these creatures.” [Al-Lisaan]
Al-Azhari said: “The evidence for the Tasbeeh (glorification) of Allaah’s creation and their way of worship is the statement of Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala) in Surat Saba’ (34:10):
يَا جِبَالُ أَوِّبِي مَعَهُ وَالطَّيْرَ
‘O you mountains, glorify (Allaah) with him (Dawoud Alayhi’ssalam)! And you birds (also)!’
Allaah the Exalted, commanded the mountains and the birds to join Prophet Dawoud (Alayhi’ssalam) in glorifying Allaah all the day till evening. Allaah’s Command for the mountains to glorify him proves that glorification is a kind of worship.
Similarly, the Statement of Allaah, the Exalted, in Surat al-Hajj (22:18):
أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَسْجُدُ لَهُ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَنْ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَالشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَرُ وَالنُّجُومُ وَالْجِبَالُ وَالشَّجَرُ وَالدَّوَابُّ وَكَثِيرٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ
‘See you not that to Allaah prostrates whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth, and the sun, and the moon, and the stars, and the mountains, and the trees, and the animals, and many of mankind?’
The prostration of these creatures is their act of worship for their Creator, which we do not fully understand as we do not comprehend their glorification.”
Ibn Katheer (Rahimahullaah) said: “Everything prostrates to Allaah’s Might, willingly or unwillingly, and everything prostrates in a manner that befits its nature.” [Tafseer Ibn Katheer]
Al-Azhari added: “Allaah, the Exalted, also says in Surat al-Baqarah (2:74):
وَإِنَّ مِنَ الْحِجَارَةِ لَمَا يَتَفَجَّرُ مِنْهُ الْأَنْهَارُ وَإِنَّ مِنْهَا لَمَا يَشَّقَّقُ فَيَخْرُجُ مِنْهُ الْمَاءُ وَإِنَّ مِنْهَا لَمَا يَهْبِطُ مِنْ خَشْيَةِ اللَّهِ
‘And indeed, there are stones out of which rivers gush forth, and indeed, there are of them (stones) which split asunder so that water flows from them, and indeed, there are of them (stones) which fall down for fear of Allaah.’
Allaah, the Exalted, knows about the stones descent out of fear of Him and we believe in all what Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala) has informed us of and should not allege with what our minds cannot comprehend, the description of their action (stones’ descent).” [Al-Lisaan]
Ibn Jarir (Rahimahullaah) said in his interpretation of Surat al-Isra’ (17:44), “and there is not a thing but glorifies His Praise,” that it means there is nothing that Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala) has created but that it glorifies His praise. The evidence for this is the Hadeeth narrated by Jabir (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) that the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: “Shall I tell about something Nooh (Alayhi’ssalam) ordered his son with? He (Nooh Alayhi’ssalam) said to his son, ‘O son! I command you to say:
سُبْحَانَ الله وَبـِحَمْدِهِ
‘Subhaan-Allaahi wa bihamdihi.’
“I deem Allaah free of any resemblance to anything, and I glorify His Praises.”
It is the prayer of all the creation and the glorification of the Truth, and by it the creation is provided with sustenance as Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala) says, “and there is not a thing but glorifies His Praise.’“ [Reported by Ahmad, al-Bukhaari in al-Adab al-Mufrad, al-Haakim and al-Baihaqi]
3- The Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) used to mention this Name in his Rukoo’ (bowing) and Sujood (prostration), supplicating His Lord with it.
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