Part Two The Excellence of the Four Statements

Part Two

The Excellence of the Four Statements

سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ ، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ، وَلَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ ، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ

‘Far is Allaah from imperfection, and all praise be to Allaah, and there is none worthy of worship in truth except Allaah, and Allaah is the Greatest,’

By

Shaykh AbdurRazaaq bin AbdulMuhsin al-Badr

Translated by

Abbas Abu Yahya

 

Shaykh AbdurRazaaq bin AbdulMuhsin al-Badr said:

‘Previously, we covered a number of virtues of these four statements: they are the best speech after the Qur’aan, they are ‘Far is Allaah from imperfection, and all praise be to Allaah, and there is none worthy of worship in truth except Allaah, and Allaah is the Greatest,’ (Subhana Allaahi, wal hamdu lillaahi, wa la illaah ila Allaah, wa Allaahu Akbar).

Here we will continue with another number of benefits from these statements from the Ahadeeth of the Messenger of Allaah –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– which mention these statements:

7- From their excellence is that Allaah chose these statements and chose them for His slave, and Allaah has set aside for the one who remembers Allaah saying them, with great and abundant reward.

In the ‘Musnad’ of Imam Ahmad and ‘Mustadrak’ of al-Hakim with an authentic Isnaad from the hadeeth of Abu Huraira and Abu Sa’eed –Radi Allaahu anhumma: that the Messenger of Allaah –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– said:

‘Indeed Allaah chose four statements: ‘Far is Allaah from imperfection, and all praise be to Allaah, and there is none worthy of worship in truth except Allaah, and Allaah is the Greatest,’ (Subhana Allaahi, wal hamdu lillaahi, wa la illaah ila Allaah, wa Allaahu Akbar). So whoever says ‘Subhana Allaah,’ twenty good deeds are written for him, and twenty bad deeds are taken away.  Whoever says ‘Allaahu akbar’ then he gets likewise. Whoever says ‘La illaah ila Allaah,’ then he gets likewise.  Whoever says ‘Alhamdulillaahi Rabbil Al-Ameen’ from his own self then thirty good deeds are written for him and thirty sins are cancelled from him.’[1]

The reward for the slave of Allaah saying al-Hamd (Praise) is increased more than the other four, when he says it from his own self; this is because al-Hamd does not generally occur except after a reason for saying it, like eating or drinking, or the occurrence of a blessing, so it is as if the al-Hamd occurs due to something in return, for that which has been rendered to the slave of Allaah at the time of saying al-Hamd, so if the slave of Allaah mentions al-Hamd from his own self without any pushing factor to do so, nor for a new blessing (which Allaah has given him) then his reward is increased.

8- From their virtues is: that they are a protection from the Hell-Fire for the one who says them and they will come as a savior on the Day of Judgement for the one who says them and they will precede him. Al-Hakim collected in ‘al-Mustadrak’ and Nisa’ee in ‘Amal al-Yawm wa Layla’ and others from Abu Hurairah –Radi Allaahu anhu– who said that Messenger of Allaah –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– said:

‘Take your protection.’

We said: ‘O Messenger of Allaah against an enemy that has arrived?’

He said:

‘No, but your protection from the Hell-Fire, say: ‘Far is Allaah from imperfection, and all praise be to Allaah, and there is none worthy of worship in truth except Allaah, and Allaah is the Greatest,’ (Subhana Allaahi, wal hamdu lillaahi, wa la illaah ila Allaah, wa Allaahu Akbar) since indeed they will come on the Day of Judgement as saviours and preceding good actions and they are the lasting good deeds of the righteous.’

Al-Hakim said: ‘This hadeeth is Saheeh upon conditions of Muslim and they did not collect it. Dhahabi agreed with al-Hakim. And it was authenticated by the ‘allaama al-Albaani -Rahimullaah.’[2]

This hadeeth includes an addition to the Ahadeeth which have preceded which is describing these statements that they are the lasting good deeds.

Allaah Ta’ala said:

<< But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one’s] hope. >> [18:46]

The lasting good deeds are those deeds due to which their reward remains, and is continuous, and this is the best at what a slave of Allaah can expect and hope for and expect the best reward.

9 – And from its benefits is: that they make a curve around the ‘Arsh of ar-Rahman and they have a buzzing sound like the buzzing of the bee, by which they mention /remember the one who said them.

In the ‘Musnad’ of Imam Ahmad and Sunnan Ibn Majah and ‘al-Mustadrak’ by al-Hakim from Nu’man bin Basheer –Radi Allaahu anhu– who said: the Messenger of Allaah –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– said:

‘Indeed what you remember/mention from the magnificence of Allaah is saying Subhana Allaah, Allaahu Akbar, la illaah ila Allaah and Alhamdulillaah, it curves around the ‘Arsh, they have a buzzing sound like the buzz of the bee, which (mention/remember) its (companion/the one) who says it. Does not one of you want that, or wish that someone still remembers you by it.’

Al-Busseeri said in: ‘Zawaid Sunnan Ibn Majah: ‘Its Isnaad is Saheeh, its narrators of trustworthy, and it was authenticated by al-Hakim.[3]

Therefore, the benefit of this hadeeth is this great virtue, which is that these four statements curve around the  ‘Arsh, i.e. that they go around it, they have a buzzing sound like the buzz of the bee, i.e. a sound which is similar to the sound of the bee and in doing so it remembers the person who said them, and those words are the greatest encouragement for Dhikr with these statements, this is why the Messenger –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– said in this hadeeth: ‘Does not one of you want that, or wish that someone still remembers you by it.’

10 – From their excellence: that the Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– mentioned that they are heavy on the scales.  Nisa’ee narrated in ‘Amal al-Yawm wa Layla’ and Ibn Hibban in his book called ‘Saheeh’ and al-Haakim and other than them from Abu Salma –Radi Allaahu anhu– who said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– saying:

‘Bakhin Bakhin – and pointed with his five fingers – how heavy they are on the scale: ‘Far is Allaah from imperfection, and all praise be to Allaah, and there is none worthy of worship in truth except Allaah, and Allaah is the Greatest,’ (Subhana Allaahi, wal hamdu lillaahi, wa la illaah ila Allaah, wa Allaahu Akbar) and a righteous son that dies and his father is a Muslim and he benefits by him.’

Al-Haakim authenticated it and Dhahabi agreed[4] and the hadeeth has a support from the hadeeth of Thawbaan –Radi Allaahu anhu, and al-Bazzar collected it in his ‘Musnad’ and said its Isnaad was Hasan.[5]

And his saying in the hadeeth: ‘Bakhin Bakhin’ this is a word, which is said when, being amazed by something and explaining its excellence.

11- From the excellence of these words is that for the slave of Allaah they are Sadaqah (giving charity) when he says each one of them.

It is collected by Muslim in his ‘Saheeh’ from Abu Dharr –Radi Allaahu anhu:
Some of the companions of the Messenger of Allaah –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– said:

‘O Messenger of Allaah, the affluent have made off with the rewards, they pray as we pray they fast as we fast, and they give away in charity the extra of their wealth.’

He –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– said:

‘Has not Allah made things for you to give away in charity? Every Tasbihah (saying: Subhana Allaah) is a charity, every Takbirah(saying: Allaahu Akbar) is a charity, every Tahmidah (saying: al-Hamdu lillaah)is a charity, and every Tahlilah (saying: la illaah ila Allaah)is a charity, to enjoin a good action is a charity, to forbid an evil action is a charity, and in having relations with your wife is a charity.’

They said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, when one of us fulfils his desire (with his wife) will he have some reward for that?’

He –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– said:

‘Do you not think that if he were to act upon it unlawfully he would be sinning? Likewise, if he has acted upon it lawfully he will have a reward.’[6]

The poor people thought that there was no Sadaqah except by giving money, and they were incapable of doing that, so the Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– informed them that all types of good actions and being good is Sadaqah, and the Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– mentioned that at the head of good actions are these four statements ‘Far is Allaah from imperfection, and all praise be to Allaah, and there is none worthy of worship in truth except Allaah, and Allaah is the Greatest,’ (Subhana Allaahi, wal hamdu lillaahi, wa la illaah ila Allaah, wa Allaahu Akbar).

12 – From the excellence of these statements is that the Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– made these statements in place of the Noble Qur’aan for the one who truly cannot read it.

It is narrated by Abu Dawood, Nisa’aee, Daraqutni and other than them from Ibn Abee Awfa –Radi Allaahu anhu– who said: ‘A man came to the Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– and said: ‘O Messenger of Allaah indeed I cannot learn the Qur’aan, so teach me something that will give me a reward.’ He –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– said:

‘Say: ‘Far is Allaah from imperfection, and all praise be to Allaah, and there is none worthy of worship in truth except Allaah, and Allaah is the Greatest, There is no capability nor is there any power except with Allaah.’ (Subhana Allaahi, wal hamdu lillaahi, wa la illaah ila Allaah, wa Allaahu Akbar wa La hawla wa la quwwata illa billaa.)

Then the Bedouin said: ‘like this – and he closed his hand – and said: This is for Allaah, what is for me?’

The Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– said:

اللهم اغفر لي وارحمني وعافني وارزقني واهدني

‘Say: O Allaah forgive me, and have mercy on me, and pardon me, and provide for me, and guide me.’

Then the Bedouin took them [this supplication] and closed the palm of his hand. The Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– said:

‘As for this person then he has filled his two hands with goodness.’[7]

The Muhaddith Abu Tayyib al-Atheem ‘Abbadi said in his comments on Sunnan Daraqutni its Isnad is Saheeh and Albaani -Rahimullaah- said its Sanad is Hasan.[8]

These are some of the virtues mentioned in the Prophetic Sunnah regarding these four statements.  There are specific virtues for every one of these statements. Whoever reflects upon these preceding virtues finds that they are very great, and show the great status of these statements and their lofty status and their many benefits and their advantages upon the believer, the slave of Allaah.

Perhaps the secret to this great excellence – and Allaah knows best – is what has been mentioned by some of the people of knowledge, which is that the Names of Allaah –Tabaraka wa Ta’ala – are all incorporated in these four statements. As for what is embodied in ‘Subhana Allaah’ is the Name of Allaah which show purity like al-Qudoos (The Holy) and as-Salaam (The Source of Peace).

As for ‘Alhamdulillaah’ then it is comprises and affirms the different types of perfection for Allaah –Tabaraka – in His Names and His Attributes.

As for ‘Allaahu Akbar’ then it contains the Magnificence of Allaah and regarding Him as Great, and that none can enumerate praise upon Him, so whoever this possesses, then, He is the One Who is worthy of worship, which means that there is none worthy of worship except Him.

I swear by Allaah, look how great these statements are, and how magnificent their matter is, and how great is the result of the good for them.

We ask Allaah that He gives us the capability to observe these statements and to be continuous upon them, and makes us from its people, those whose tongues are moist with remembering them, indeed Allaah is The Protector of that and He is The Capable One.

[Taken from ‘Fiqh al-Adeeyah wal Adhkaar’ by Abdur-Razzaq al-Badr  p.161-166]