How To Understand the Words: “Tasbih”, “Tahlil” and “Taqdis”?

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: Assalam alaikum,

Would you kindly explain the meaning of “tasbih”, “tahlil” and “taqdis” in the hadith below?

“The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:

‘Hold fast to At-Tasbih, At-Tahlil, and At-Taqdis, and count them upon the fingertips, for indeed they shall be questioned, and they will be made to speak. And do not become heedless, so that you forget about the Mercy (of Allah).”

Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

I pray that you are in the best of health and faith, insha’Allah.

(1) The tasbih is saying SubhanAllah (Glory be to Allah);

(2) the tahlil is saying: La ilaha illa Allah (There is no god but Allah);

(3) and the taqdis is saying: Subhan al-Malik al-Quddus (Glory be to the King, the Holy) or: Subbuhun Quddusun Rabb al-Mala’ikati wa al-Ruh (Glorious, Holy, Lord of the angels and the Spirit.)

[Munawi, al-Taysir bi Sharh al-Jami` al-Saghir; Qari, Mirqat al-Mafatih]

Please also see: The Effects of Various Dhikr – Habib Ahmad Mashhur al-Haddad and: Imam Abdullah al-Haddad on a Treasure of Paradise: La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah (‘There is no ability nor power except through Allah’) and: The Virtues of Emphatic Remembrance

And Allah alone gives success.
Wassalam,

Tabraze Azam

Checked & Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani