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
Chapter: The Virtue Of Tahlil (Saying La Ilaha Ill-Allah), Tasbih (Saying Subhan Allah) And (Du'a) Supplication
Authentic
hadith of Sahih Muslim
Sahih Muslim 2695
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."
Reported by Muslim (No. 2695) and At-Tirmidhi (No. 3597).
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.
Lessons
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.
Explanation in Arabic
يُخْبِرُ النبيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أنَّ ذِكْرَ اللهِ تعالى بهذه الكلمات العظيمات خيرٌ من الدنيا وما فيها، وهي:
"سبحان الله": تنزيه لله عن النقائص.
"الحمد لله": ثناء عليه بصفات الكمال مع محبته وتعظيمه.
"لا إله إلا الله": لا معبود بحق إلا الله.
"الله أكبر": أعظم وأجل من كلِّ شيء.
الحث على ذكر الله، وأنه أحب مما طلعت عليه الشمس.
الحض على الإكثار من الذكر؛ لما فيه من الأجر والفضل.
متاع الدنيا قليل وشهواتها زائلة.
Scholars’ grades
Scholar
Grade
Applies to
Work
Muslimd. 261 AH
Authenticصحيح
The hadith
صحيح مسلمNo. 2695
Grades of other versions (4)
AuthenticAl-Albaniصحيح — صحيح الترمذي (3597)
Authentic chainShu'ayb al-Arna'utإسناده صحيح — تخريج صحيح ابن حبان (834)
AuthenticIbn Hibbanأخرجه في صحيحه — صحيح ابن حبان (834)
وعنه رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: لأن أقول: سبحان الله، والحمد لله، ولا إله إلا الله، والله أكبر، أحب إلي مما طلعت عليه الشمس” ((رواه مسلم)).