UAE Friday sermon: the merits of Tasbeeh

Imams leading prayers on Friday will discuss the merits of ­glorifying Allah and praising His favours [Tasbeeh].

“Tasbeeh was part of the traditions of all the Prophets and the righteous ancestors.

“For instance, the Prophet Dawood (David) used to glorify Allah, the Almighty, and contemplate upon His blessings,” the imams will say.

“When Dawood recited his scripture and glorified Allah, the mountains joined him in praise and the birds rallied around him in different languages, adhering to the orders of their Magnificent Lord: ‘O mountains, repeat [our] praises with him, and the birds [as well]’, (Sabaa: 10). Our Master Mohammad also used to praise Allah frequently, saying, ‘Glory be to Allah and All Praise is due to Him.’ In this regard, it was narrated that Rabeia Ibn Kaab, may Allah be pleased with him, said: ‘I used to serve the Messenger of Allah until he established Isha prayer then I used to spend the night at his door. As he entered to his room, I used to hear him saying, ‘Glory be to Allah, Glory be Allah, Glory be to Allah and all praise is due to Him’.”

Thus, remembering Allah, the Most Exalted, and glorifying Him frequently is part of the guidance of the Messenger of Allah and we should follow his example.

Moreover, Allah, the Almighty, also ordered believers to remember and exalt Him much, the imams will say.

“For He says, ‘O you who have believed, remember Allah with much remembrance. And exalt Him morning and afternoon’ (Al-Ahzab: 41-42)”.

That is to say, you should remember Allah and exalt Him in the day and in the night, in the sea and on land, in private and in public, and in all circumstances, the imams will tell worshippers. Glorifying Allah, the Almighty, has many great ­merits and holds a noble status, the imams will say.

“The words of Tasbeeh are the dearest to Allah, the Most Exalted. It was narrated in this regard, that Abu Dharr Al Ghifari, may Allah be pleased with him, said: ‘I asked the Messenger of Allah, ‘Which speech is most beloved to Allah [the Mighty and Sublime]?’

“He said: ‘That which Allah selected for His angels (to say): Glory be to Allah, and all praise is due to Him; Glory be to Allah, and all praise is due to Him. Recite them three times.”

Amongst the other virtues of Tasbeeh is that it increases one’s record of good deeds and wipes away bad ones. An illustration of this can be seen in the following Hadith.

“It was narrated that the Messenger of Allah said to those sitting with him: ‘Is any one amongst you incapable of attaining a thousand good deeds?’ So one of the people in the assembly asked: ‘How can one of us earn a thousand deeds?’

“The Prophet said: ‘Recite a hundred Tasbeeh. Whoever recites them, a thousand good deeds will be written for him and a thousand bad deeds will be wiped away from him’,” the imam will say.

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