Subhanallahi Wa Bihamdihi Subhanallahil Azeem (سبحان الله وبحمده، سبحان الله العظيم) is one of two short phrases the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) called light on the tongue, heavy on the Scales. This guide covers the meaning, the canonical hadith, the proper pronunciation, and the Sunnah practice of reciting it daily, with a 100× counting plan you can fit into three minutes.
Table of Contents
Pronunciation
Native Arabic speakers stress the long vowel in Bihamdihi and the open fatha on Al-Azeem. The audio walkthrough below breaks the phrase into syllables so non-Arabic speakers can recite it confidently. Repeat each syllable until the rhythm feels natural, then say the full phrase three times before adding it to your daily count.
Subhanallahi Wa Bihamdihi Subhanallahil Azeem in Arabic
Below is the full phrase in Arabic with diacritical marks (tashkeel) for accurate recitation, then in plain Arabic, then in romanized transliteration. Use the version that fits your reading level.
سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ، سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ العَظِيم
And without the diacritical marks:
سبحان الله وبحمده، سبحان الله العظيم
In romanized transliteration:
Subhanallahi Wa Bihamdihi, Subhanallahil-Azeem
Meaning and Word-by-Word Breakdown
The general meaning is Glory be to Allah and all praise is to Him; glory be to Allah, the Magnificent. The phrase joins two Arabic praise structures, tasbih (declaring Allah free from imperfection) and hamd (praise), and seals them with the divine attribute Al-Azeem (the Magnificent / the Tremendous).
| Word | Arabic | Root | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subhana | سُبْحَانَ | s-b-h | Glory be / declared free of all imperfection |
| Allah | اللَّهِ | (proper name) | The One True God |
| Wa | وَ | (conjunction) | And |
| Bihamdihi | بِحَمْدِهِ | h-m-d | With His praise |
| Subhana | سُبْحَانَ | s-b-h | Glory be |
| Allah | اللَّهِ | (proper name) | Allah |
| Al-Azeem | العَظِيم | ‘-z-m | The Magnificent / The Tremendous |
The root s-b-h in Arabic carries the image of swimming past or moving rapidly above. When applied to Allah, it conveys that Allah is far above any defect, partner, or weakness the human mind could imagine. The root h-m-d is the source of Alhamdulillah and refers to praise of one’s perfections. Combining the two in a single breath is what makes Sahih al-Bukhari 6406 call this phrase light on the tongue and heavy on the Scales.
Related:
Hadith on Subhanallahi Wa Bihamdihi Subhanallahil Azeem
Five canonical hadith establish the virtue of this dhikr. Two are reported in Sahih al-Bukhari, two in Sahih Muslim, and one widely-quoted reward, the palm-tree-in-Paradise hadith, comes from Jami at-Tirmidhi but is graded weak. We list each in order so you know which rewards rest on the strongest evidence.
The Two Heavy Phrases — Sahih al-Bukhari 6406
Narrated Abu Hurayrah: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Two phrases are light on the tongue, heavy on the Scales, and beloved to the Most Merciful: Subhanallahi wa bihamdihi, Subhanallahil-Azeem.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 6406; also reported as Sahih al-Bukhari 7563 in the Book of Tawheed
This is the canonical hadith for the full phrase. Many summaries online cite Bukhari 6405 instead, but 6405 reports only the short form (without Al-Azeem). When you cite “the two heavy phrases” hadith, the correct reference is Bukhari 6406.
100 Times Forgives Sins Like the Foam of the Sea — Sahih al-Bukhari 6405
Narrated Abu Hurayrah: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Whoever says ‘Subhanallahi wa bihamdihi’ one hundred times a day, his sins will be forgiven though they were as much as the foam of the sea.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 6405
Note: Bukhari 6405 cites the short form Subhanallah wa bihamdihi (without Al-Azeem). The 100× sins-forgiven reward is tied specifically to that short phrase, which we cover in our Subhanallahi Wa Bihamdihi guide. The full two-phrase combination is rewarded by the heavy on the Scales virtue in Bukhari 6406. Both narrations are valid; cite each in its proper context.
1,000 Good Deeds in a Single Sitting — Sahih Muslim 2698
Mus’ab ibn Sa’d reported from his father Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas that the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Is any one of you incapable of earning a thousand good deeds in a day?” Someone among those sitting with him asked, “How can one of us earn a thousand good deeds?” He said, “He should recite tasbih one hundred times — a thousand good deeds will be recorded for him and a thousand of his sins will be wiped away.”
Sahih Muslim 2698
Morning and Evening Recitation — Sahih Muslim 2692
Abu Hurayrah reported the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, “Whoever says ‘Subhanallahi wa bihamdihi’ one hundred times in the morning and the same in the evening will not be surpassed on the Day of Resurrection by anyone, except a person who said the same or more.”
Sahih Muslim 2692
A Palm Tree in Jannah — Jami at-Tirmidhi 3464 (Da’if)
Narrated Jabir ibn Abdullah: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Whoever says ‘Subhanallahil-Azeem wa bihamdihi,’ a palm tree is planted for him in Paradise.”
Jami at-Tirmidhi 3464
Note on grading: this hadith is graded Da’if (weak) by Darussalam due to issues in its chain of narration. We mention it because many published collections include it, but the rewards confirmed in the Sahih sources above, not this one, are the basis of practice.
When to Recite It
Five recurring contexts make this dhikr a daily Sunnah practice rather than an occasional remembrance. Pick one or two anchors to start with, then build from there.
After Each Fard Prayer
After every obligatory salah, the standard Sunnah block is Subhanallah 33 times, Alhamdulillah 33 times, and Allahu Akbar 33 times, sealed with the long tahlil formula reported in Sahih Muslim 597. Many people add Subhanallahi wa bihamdihi as the closing 100th tasbih, which simultaneously completes the post-prayer block and earns the reward described in Sahih al-Bukhari 6405.
Morning and Evening Azkar
Per Sahih Muslim 2692, reciting the short form 100 times in the morning and 100 times in the evening secures a reward unsurpassed by anyone on the Day of Resurrection except a person who matches or exceeds the count. This is the strongest scheduling anchor for the practice and the easiest to habituate, since most Muslims already have a morning and evening azkar slot.
In Ruku and Sujood (a Different Dhikr)
Inside salah, the Prophet (ﷺ) recited Subhana Rabbiyal Azeem in ruku (Glory be to my Lord, the Magnificent) and Subhana Rabbiyal A’la in sujood. These share the Azeem root with our phrase but address Allah directly as Rabbi (my Lord) and belong inside salah, not as part of a daily 100× count. For those positions, see Subhana Rabbiyal Azeem and Subhana Rabbiyal A’la.
Moments of Awe or Reflection
When witnessing a sign of Allah’s majesty, a clear sky after rain, a child’s first breath, an unexpected rescue, this phrase functions as a spontaneous tasbih. The Companions used it whenever a moment called for reflection on Allah’s greatness, and it carries the same role today.
As an All-Day Tasbih
Six syllables make the phrase short enough to repeat while walking, driving, or cooking. Many of the salaf accumulated thousands of tasbih daily by filling small idle pockets with this remembrance: on the train, between emails, in the queue at the supermarket. For more structured practice, see our guide on ways to purify your heart with dhikr.
How to Recite It 100 Times a Day
Reaching 100 takes roughly three to four minutes at a steady pace. The Sunnah method, narrated in Sunan Abu Dawud 1502, is to count on the joints of the right hand, since those joints will testify on the Day of Resurrection. Below are four ways to fit 100× into a normal day.
The Sunnah Counting Method
Each finger has three joints. The four fingers (excluding the thumb) give twelve joint counts per hand. Use the thumb to seal each joint, count one phrase per joint, and ten rounds of twelve will give you 120, comfortably more than the 100 you set out to recite.
Splitting Across the Day
A practical schedule that aligns with the five daily prayers:
- After Fajr: 25
- After Dhuhr: 25
- After Asr: 25
- After Maghrib and Isha combined: 25
- Total: 100
On top of this, the morning 100 and evening 100 from Sahih Muslim 2692 can be added inside the standard azkar al-sabah and azkar al-masa sets without overlap.
Tasbih Beads (Misbaha)
A traditional misbaha of 33 beads completes 99 in three rounds; a 100-bead misbaha completes the count in one round. Both are permissible counting aids, although the finger-joint method is the more emphasized Sunnah per Abu Dawud 1502. Beads help in low-light settings or when walking; fingers travel free.
Pairing with the Standard Tasbih
Many scholars recommend pairing this phrase with the post-salah block of Subhanallah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar (33-33-33-1 or 33-33-34) to multiply reward across multiple narrations. Either practice is valid; consistency matters more than complexity. Pick the schedule you will actually keep.
Variations and Related Dhikr
Several related phrases share roots or themes with this dhikr. Knowing the differences prevents confusion when reading hadith collections or following an imam in qunut.
Subhana Rabbiyal Azeem (the Ruku Tasbih)
Recited inside ruku during salah, this phrase shares the divine attribute Al-Azeem with our phrase but uses Rabbi (my Lord) instead of Allah. It is reserved for the bowing position and is not part of a 100× daily count. Read more in our Subhana Rabbiyal Azeem guide.
The “Adada Khalqihi” Extension
A longer variation reported in Sahih Muslim 2726, narrated by Juwayriyya bint al-Harith, runs Subhanallahi wa bihamdihi adada khalqihi, wa rida nafsihi, wa zinata ‘arshihi, wa midada kalimatihi, meaning “Glory be to Allah and His praise, by the number of His creation, by His pleasure, by the weight of His Throne, and by the ink of His words.” The Prophet (ﷺ) told her this single phrase, said three times, outweighed everything she had recited that morning. A related opening tasbih is Subhanaka Allahumma wa Bihamdika.
Subhanallah, Alhamdulillah, Mashallah — How They Differ
Subhanallah declares Allah free from any imperfection. Alhamdulillah is praise for what Allah has given. Mashallah is said when admiring something Allah has willed (often to ward off envy). Adding wa Bihamdihi combines tasbih and hamd in a single breath, which is why Sahih al-Bukhari 6406 calls the resulting phrase light on the tongue, heavy on the Scales.
Quran Cross-References on Tasbih
The dhikr aligns with three foundational Quranic verses on universal tasbih, the constant glorification of Allah by all of creation. Saying Subhanallahi wa bihamdihi aloud puts the believer in step with what every atom in the universe is already doing.
Surah Al-Isra 17:44
“The seven heavens and the earth and whatever is in them exalt Him. There is not a thing except that it exalts Him by His praise [yusabbihu bi-hamdihi], but you do not understand their way of exalting.”
Quran 17:44
The Arabic phrase yusabbihu bi-hamdihi in this verse, exalts Him by His praise, is the Quranic root of the Sunnah formulation Subhanallahi wa bihamdihi. The Prophet (ﷺ) gave the believer a verbal phrase that mirrors the verse exactly.
Surah Al-Hashr 59:24
“He is Allah, the Creator, the Inventor, the Fashioner; to Him belong the best names. Whatever is in the heavens and earth is exalting Him, and He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.”
Quran 59:24
This is one of seven musabbihat chapters that open or close with creation’s tasbih. Reciting Subhanallahi wa bihamdihi consciously aligns the worshipper with that universal rhythm.
Surah Al-Hadid 57:1
“Whatever is in the heavens and earth exalts Allah, and He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.”
Quran 57:1
The opening word of Al-Hadid is sabbaha (has glorified). It establishes that creation’s tasbih is in the past, present, and ongoing, and the human believer joins by saying Subhanallahi wa bihamdihi, Subhanallahil-Azeem aloud what the heavens and the earth do silently.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Subhanallahi Wa Bihamdihi Subhanallahil Azeem mean?
It means “Glory be to Allah and praise be to Him; glory be to Allah, the Magnificent.” The phrase combines tasbih (declaring Allah free from imperfection) with hamd (praise) and seals it with the divine attribute Al-Azeem (the Magnificent). It is one of the most beloved short remembrances in the Sunnah.
How many times should I say Subhanallahi wa Bihamdihi a day?
The Sunnah anchor is 100 times daily. The short form Subhanallahi wa bihamdihi recited 100 times in a day forgives sins like the foam of the sea (Sahih al-Bukhari 6405), and 100 times in the morning plus 100 times in the evening secures a reward unsurpassed on the Day of Resurrection (Sahih Muslim 2692).
What hadith mentions Subhanallahi wa Bihamdihi Subhanallahil-Azeem?
The canonical reference for the full two-phrase combination is Sahih al-Bukhari 6406 (also Bukhari 7563 in the Book of Tawheed): “Two phrases are light on the tongue, heavy on the Scales, and beloved to the Most Merciful: Subhanallahi wa bihamdihi, Subhanallahil-Azeem.” The 100x sins-forgiven hadith (Bukhari 6405) reports the short form only.
What is the difference between Subhanallah and Subhanallahil-Azeem?
Subhanallah declares Allah free from any imperfection. Subhanallahil-Azeem adds the divine attribute Al-Azeem (the Magnificent / the Tremendous), specifying which name of Allah is being glorified. The Prophet (ﷺ) coupled it with wa bihamdihi to combine tasbih (glorification) and hamd (praise) in a single phrase.
When should I recite Subhanallahi wa Bihamdihi?
Five Sunnah anchors: after each fard prayer (as part of the post-salah tasbih block), in the morning azkar, in the evening azkar, in moments of awe at Allah’s signs in creation, and as a fill-in tasbih during idle time throughout the day. Sahih Muslim 2692 specifically rewards 100x in the morning and 100x in the evening.
Does Subhanallahi wa Bihamdihi forgive sins?
Yes. According to Sahih al-Bukhari 6405, whoever says “Subhanallahi wa bihamdihi” one hundred times a day will have his sins forgiven though they were as much as the foam of the sea. Sahih Muslim 2698 adds that 100 tasbih records 1,000 good deeds and erases 1,000 sins. The Sahih sources are explicit that the forgiveness is real and substantial.
Set a daily reminder, count on your fingers, and let Subhanallahi wa bihamdihi, Subhanallahil-Azeem be among the first words you say in the morning and the last words you say at night, light on the tongue, heavy on the Scales, beloved to Ar-Rahman.
