Subḥānallāhi wa biḥamdihi, Subḥānallāhil ʿAẓeem, Astaghfirullāh—this short and powerful phrase brings together three of the most beloved acts of worship: glorifying Allah ﷻ, praising Him, and asking for His forgiveness. It appears in several authentic hadiths, and the Prophet ﷺ described it as easy to say but immense in reward. Through it, we remember Allah, soften our hearts, and seek His mercy.
This blog explores the full meaning, spiritual rewards, and how to recite Subḥānallāhi wa biḥamdihi, Subḥānallāhil ʿAẓeem, Astaghfirullāh regularly—with sincerity, understanding, and love for our Creator.
Subhanallahi Wa Bihamdihi Subhanallahil Azeem Astaghfirullah – Arabic, Transliteration & Translation
This short dhikr brings together three beautiful acts of worship: saying Subḥānallāh to declare Allah’s perfection, al-ḥamd to praise Him with gratitude, and Astaghfirullāh to ask for His forgiveness. These are not just words—they’re powerful forms of remembrance that the Prophet ﷺ himself used regularly and encouraged his ummah to repeat often.
سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ، سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ العَظِيمِ، أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ Transliteration: Subḥānallāhi wa biḥamdihi, Subḥānallāhil ʿAẓeem, Astaghfirullāh Translation: Glory is to Allah and all praise is to Him. Glory is to Allah the Almighty. I seek forgiveness from Allah. Word-by-word Meaning: This phrase combines glorification, gratitude, and repentance—making it one of the most complete and beloved forms of dhikr in daily life.
Subhanallahi Wa Bihamdihi Subhanallahil Azeem Astaghfirullah – Virtues & Rewards in Hadith
This dhikr—Subḥānallāhi wa biḥamdihi, Subḥānallāhil ʿAẓeem, Astaghfirullāh—is not just easy to say, but deeply loved by Allah ﷻ. The Prophet ﷺ said in Sahih Muslim:
“Two phrases are light on the tongue, heavy on the scale, and beloved to the Most Merciful: Subḥānallāhi wa biḥamdihi, Subḥānallāhil ʿAẓeem.”
These few words, when said with sincerity, carry enormous reward—especially on the Day of Judgment, when our good deeds will be weighed in the mīzān.
As for Astaghfirullāh, the Prophet ﷺ said in Sunan Abi Dawud:
“Whoever regularly seeks forgiveness, Allah will make a way out for him from every hardship, relief from every worry, and provide for him from sources he never imagined.”
This shows how istighfār isn’t just about saying sorry—it brings rizq, emotional peace, and closeness to Allah. When you say these phrases together, you’re glorifying Him, thanking Him, and turning to Him—all at once. That’s what makes this dhikr so beloved and rewarding.
When & How Often to Recite Subhanallahi Wa Bihamdihi Subhanallahil Azeem Astaghfirullah?
You can recite Subḥānallāhi wa biḥamdihi, Subḥānallāhil ʿAẓeem, Astaghfirullāh anytime—day or night. But some moments carry extra blessings, and saying it during those times brings more reward and peace to the heart.
- Morning and Evening: Fits into the Prophet’s ﷺ daily adhkār, offering barakah and protection.
- After Salah: Not a fixed post-salah dhikr, but complements themes of gratitude and presence.
- During Daily Tasks: Keeps your tongue connected to Allah ﷻ during idle moments.
- Before Sleeping: Optional, but beautiful for ending the day with forgiveness.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever says ‘Subḥānallāhi wa biḥamdihi’ one hundred times a day, his sins will be forgiven even if they are like the foam of the sea.”
Many scholars extend this with Subḥānallāhil ʿAẓeem and Astaghfirullāh, and recommend repeating it 10–100 times daily for purification and consistency in remembrance.
Related Hadith
The dhikr Subḥānallāhi wa biḥamdihi, Subḥānallāhil ʿAẓeem is directly mentioned in two of the most authentic hadiths—Sahih Muslim (2694) and Sahih al-Bukhari (6406). The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Two phrases are light on the tongue, heavy on the scale, and beloved to the Most Merciful: Subḥānallāhi wa biḥamdihi, Subḥānallāhil ʿAẓeem.”
These simple words, when recited with sincerity, become some of the most beloved to Allah ﷻ and make your mīzān heavy on the Day of Judgment.
Though Astaghfirullāh isn’t part of this hadith, many scholars and daily adhkār pair it with this phrase to form a complete act of glorification, praise, and forgiveness.
What matters most is not the length—but the ikhlāṣ (sincerity) and tawāḍuʿ (humility) in your remembrance. These phrases are timeless because they are light to say—but heavy with meaning.
Related Phrases
This dhikr is often recited alongside other brief but powerful phrases that combine ease of recitation with immense reward.
The first part — Subḥānallāhi wa biḥamdihi — fuses glorification (tasbīḥ) with gratitude (ḥamd). It parallels phrases like:
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Tasbīḥ Fāṭimah: “Subḥānallāh (33), Alḥamdulillāh (33), Allāhu Akbar (34)” — taught by the Prophet ﷺ to his daughter Fāṭimah (RA) as a nightly remembrance before sleep.
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Lā ilāha illallāh waḥdahu lā sharīka lah, lahu’l-mulku wa lahu’l-ḥamdu, wa huwa ʿalā kulli shay’in qadīr — a phrase of tawḥīd and praise said 100 times a day for immense protection and reward, as mentioned in Bukhārī and Muslim.
The second part — Subḥānallāhil ʿAẓeem — connects strongly with the glorification said during rukūʿ in ṣalāh, expressing divine grandeur and transcendence.
Adding Astaghfirullāh at the end completes a circle of remembrance — from glorifying Allah ﷻ, to acknowledging His majesty, and finally returning to Him in repentance. The Prophet ﷺ, despite his perfection, sought forgiveness more than seventy times a day — a silent lesson in humility.
These phrases are often found grouped together in personal dhikr routines, morning/evening adhkār, and even after ṣalāh. While each has its own value, collectively they shape the soul toward purity, gratitude, and connection.
FAQs — This Subhanallahi Wa Bihamdihi Subhanallahil Azeem Astaghfirullah
Yes, you can recite it silently within your heart. While the Prophet ﷺ typically verbalized dhikr, scholars agree that silent remembrance is valid and spiritually rewarding. What matters is the presence of the heart and focus on Allah, whether or not the tongue moves. There is no fixed order you must follow. “Subhanallahi wa bihamdihi” and “Subhanallahil Azeem” often appear together in hadith, while “Astaghfirullah” can be recited independently. You may say them in sequence or separately, depending on your intention and flow. Yes. Authentic hadith mention that saying “Subhanallahi wa bihamdihi” a hundred times erases sins as vast as the foam of the sea. When combined with “Astaghfirullah,” the effect deepens — strengthening your repentance and spiritual purification. Absolutely. The Qur’an (3:191) praises those who remember Allah while standing, sitting, or lying down. Dhikr isn't restricted by place or posture — it can accompany your daily routine, transforming ordinary moments into acts of worship. Yes. A hadith promises immense reward for 100 recitations — yet even a few sincere repetitions carry tremendous value. Consistency matters more than count. Aim for quality over quantity, but increase as your heart inclines.
Mohammed Basheer is the founder of Sukoonly.com, an Islamic blog focused on duas, prophetic healing, and Qur’anic wisdom. He writes with sincerity and spiritual depth for seekers around the world.