To say 'subhān Allah wa al-hamdulillāh wa lā ilāha illa Allah wa Allāhu akbar (Glory be to Allah, praise be to Allah, there is no god but Allah, and Allah is the Most Great)' is more beloved to me than everything upon which the sun rises

Arabic text

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: «لَأَنْ أَقُولَ: سُبْحَانَ اللهِ، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلهِ، وَلَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ، وَاللهُ أَكْبَرُ، أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِمَّا طَلَعَتْ عَلَيْهِ الشَّمْسُ».

Translation

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "To say 'subhān Allah wa al-hamdulillāh wa lā ilāha illa Allah wa Allāhu akbar (Glory be to Allah, praise be to Allah, there is no god but Allah, and Allah is the Most Great)' is more beloved to me than everything upon which the sun rises."

Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informs that remembering Allah Almighty with these noble phrases is better than the world and what it contains. The phrases are: Subhān Allah (Glory be to Allah): Exalting Allah far above imperfections. Wa al-hamdulillāh (Praise be to Allah): Praising Allah by the attributes of perfection along with loving and extolling Him. Wa lā ilāha illa Allah (There is no god but Allah): None is truly worthy of worship except Allah. Wa Allāhu akbar (Allah is the Most Great): He is Greater and more Sublime than all else.

Benefits

• The Hadīth urges us to remember Allah and mentions that His remembrance is dearer than everything the sun rises upon.
• We are exhorted to engage in dhikr a lot, given its reward and merit.
• Worldly enjoyment is little, and its desires are transient.

Topics

• Virtues and Manners
• Jurisprudence of Supplications and Remembrance of Allah
• Timeless Dhikr