At a glance
سبحان الله
- Transliteration
- subḥāna Allāh, often written subhanallah or subhan Allah
- Pronunciation
- sub-HAN-al-LAH
- Literal meaning
- glory be to God
- Everyday sense
- wow, amazing, glory to God
- Said when
- amazed by something remarkable, or in remembrance of God
Where the phrase comes from
Subhanallah is made of two parts: subhan, "glory" or "exalted", and Allah, "God". Together they read "glory be to God". The word subhan carries the sense of declaring God above any fault or imperfection.
Muslims use it as an act of remembrance known as tasbih, which means glorifying God. Many say it, together with alhamdulillah and Allahu akbar, after the daily prayer. This practice is reported from Abu Hurairah in Sahih Muslim, where the three phrases are said 33 times each.
When Muslims say subhanallah
People say subhanallah when they are struck by wonder: a mountain view, a newborn baby, a clear night sky or a remarkable skill. It reminds the speaker that what they admire points back to God. It is close to "wow" or "amazing" in English, with the added meaning of glorifying God.
It is also used on hearing surprising news, good or bad. In that case it expresses astonishment, and the tone of voice shows how the speaker feels. For news that is shocking or wrong, many people say astaghfirullah instead.
Subhanallah and mashallah: what is the difference?
Mashallah is said to appreciate something good, often a person's child or success. Subhanallah is wider: it glorifies God and expresses wonder at anything remarkable, including nature and creation. Alhamdulillah thanks God for a blessing, while subhanallah glorifies Him and expresses wonder. Some speakers use two of these phrases together when they admire something.
Subhanallah and related phrases
Subhanallah sits alongside several other phrases of remembrance. This table shows how they compare.
| Phrase | Arabic | Meaning | When it is used |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subhanallah | سبحان الله | Glory be to God | Wonder, or glorifying God |
| Subhanallahi wa bihamdihi | سبحان الله وبحمده | Glory and praise be to God | A common phrase of remembrance |
| Alhamdulillah | الحمد لله | Praise be to God | Thanks for a blessing, or "I am well" |
| Allahu akbar | الله أكبر | God is the greatest | Declaring God's greatness, as in the prayer and the call to prayer |
| Mashallah | ما شاء الله | What God has willed | Appreciating something good that exists or has happened |
| Astaghfirullah | أستغفر الله | I seek God's forgiveness | Asking forgiveness, or expressing dismay |
Examples of subhanallah in a sentence
- Subhanallah, how vast the sky is tonight.
- Glory be to God, how vast the sky is tonight.
- Subhanallah, I cannot believe it!
- Glory be to God, I cannot believe it!
- She says subhanallah after every prayer.
- She says "glory be to God" after every prayer.
Common questions
What does subhanallah mean?
Subhanallah means "glory be to God". Muslims say it to glorify God and to express wonder at something remarkable, such as nature, a newborn baby or a surprising event. In English it is close to "wow" or "amazing", with the added meaning that the speaker is praising God and declaring Him free of any fault.
When do Muslims say subhanallah?
They say it when amazed by something beautiful or remarkable, when surprised by news, and as part of remembrance after the daily prayer. Many Muslims also say it through the day as a short phrase of remembrance, for example while walking, waiting or working, or simply to keep God in mind.
What is the difference between subhanallah and alhamdulillah?
Subhanallah glorifies God and expresses wonder. Alhamdulillah praises and thanks God, often for a blessing or in reply to "how are you?". Muslims say them together after the prayer, along with Allahu akbar, as three separate phrases of remembrance, and each one has its own meaning.
How do you write subhanallah in Arabic?
In Arabic it is written سبحان الله, from right to left, as two words. In English you will see subhanallah, subhan Allah, subhanAllah and subhanallaah. They are all the same phrase. The spellings differ only because Arabic sounds can be written in Latin letters in several ways.
How do you pronounce subhanallah?
Say it as sub-HAN-al-LAH, with the stress on the second and last parts. The h is a soft breath from the throat, and the double l in Allah is held a little longer. In fast speech it often runs together and sounds like sub-HAN-allah. Say it slowly at first if you are learning.
Explore more Arabic phrases
- Alhamdulillahالحمد للهPraise be to God. Thanks for a blessing and the usual reply to how are you.
- Mashallahما شاء اللهWhat God has willed. When and how Muslims say it.
- Astaghfirullahأستغفر اللهI seek God's forgiveness. Said to ask pardon and to show dismay.
- Inshallahإن شاء اللهIf God wills. How Muslims talk about plans and hopes for the future.
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This page is a general guide. For your own situation, please consult a qualified scholar.