Tasbih (, ) is a form of dhikr that involves the glorification of Allah in Islam by saying: "Subhan Allah" (; lit. "Glory be to God"). It is often repeated a certain number of times, using either the phalanges of the right hand or a misbaha to keep track of counting. Etymology The term tasbeeh is based on in the Arabic root of sīn-bāʾ-ḥāʾ (--). The meaning of the root word when written means to glorify. 'Tasbeeh' is an irregular derivation from subhan, which is the first word of the constitutive sentence of the first third of the canonical form (see below) of tasbeeh. The word literally means, as a verb, "to travel swiftly" and, as a noun, "duties" or "occupation". However, in the devotional context, tasbih refers to Subhan Allah, which is often used in the Qur'an with the preposition ʿan (), meaning "God is devoid [of what they (polytheists) attribute to Him]" (Al-Tawba: 31, Al-Zumar: 67 et al.). Without this preposition, it means something like "Glory be to God." Interpretation The phrase translates to "Glory be to God" but a more literal translation is, "God is above [all things]". The root of the word subḥān () is derived from the word sabaḥa (, "to be above"), giving the phrase a meaning that God is above any imperfection or false descriptions. The phrase often has the connotation of praising God for his total perfection, implying a rejection of any anthropomorphic elements or associations with God, or any attribution of mistakes or faults to him. Thus, it serves as testimony to God's transcendence (, tanzīh). For example, the Quran says subḥāna llāhi ʿammā yaṣifūn ("God is above that which they describe") and subḥāna llāhi ʿammā yušrikūn ("God is above that which they associate with him"). The phrase is mentioned in the hadiths of Sahih Bukhari, VBN 5, 57, 50. Variants Various Islamic phrases include the Tasbih, most commonly: Usage It is also often cited during the Islamic prayer (salat), supplication (dua), during a sermon (khutba) in the mosque and commonly throughout the day. It is sometimes used to express shock or amazement. Muslims are also encouraged to say the phrase 33 times after prayer and throughout the day. Muhammad taught Muslims that it is one of the four praises that God likes Muslims to say continuously. Fatimah bint Muhammad In the early years of the marriage of Ali and Fatimah,