Islam > Glossary > soubhanallah
Discover the meaning of the term soubhanallah (سبحان الله) in Islamic vocabulary.
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Updated on 11 April 2026 at 1:05 AM
📖 2 min read
An invocation meaning the glorification of Allah above any deficiency or imperfection; said in prayer at bowing and prostration, in the invocations after the prayers, and at all times.
When to say it? When amazed ; To declare Allah free of all deficiency ; At all times, as remembrance of Allah
Its meaning is: declaring Allah, the Most High, free of evil by an absolute declaration; and "soubhanallah" is a mark of glorification; and "soubhan man kadha" (Glory to him who...) is wonder, in the sense of annexation, that is: glory to Allah from what is meant.
﴿قُلْ هَـٰذِهِۦ سَبِيلِىٓ أَدْعُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ عَلَىٰ بَصِيرَةٍ أَنَا۠ وَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَنِى ۖ وَسُبْحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ﴾
« Say, "This is my way; I invite to Allah with insight, I and those who follow me. And exalted is Allah; and I am not of those who associate others with Him." »
Surah يوسف : 108
﴿لَوْ كَانَ فِيهِمَآ ءَالِهَةٌ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ لَفَسَدَتَا ۚ فَسُبْحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَرْشِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ﴾
« Had there been within the heavens and earth gods besides Allah, they both would have been ruined. So exalted is Allah, Lord of the Throne, above what they describe. »
Surah الأنبياء : 22
﴿مَا ٱتَّخَذَ ٱللَّهُ مِن وَلَدٍۢ وَمَا كَانَ مَعَهُۥ مِنْ إِلَـٰهٍ ۚ إِذًۭا لَّذَهَبَ كُلُّ إِلَـٰهٍۭ بِمَا خَلَقَ وَلَعَلَا بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍۢ ۚ سُبْحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ﴾
« Allah has not taken any son, nor has there ever been with Him any deity. [If there had been], then each deity would have taken what it created, and some of them would have sought to overcome others. Exalted is Allah above what they describe [concerning Him]. »
Surah المؤمنون : 91
﴿فَلَمَّا جَآءَهَا نُودِىَ أَنۢ بُورِكَ مَن فِى ٱلنَّارِ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهَا وَسُبْحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ﴾
« But when he came to it, he was called, "Blessed is whoever is at the fire and whoever is around it. And exalted is Allah, Lord of the worlds. »
Surah النمل : 8
﴿وَرَبُّكَ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُ وَيَخْتَارُ ۗ مَا كَانَ لَهُمُ ٱلْخِيَرَةُ ۚ سُبْحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ وَتَعَـٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ﴾
« And your Lord creates what He wills and chooses; not for them was the choice. Exalted is Allah and high above what they associate with Him. »
Surah القصص : 68
﴿فَسُبْحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ حِينَ تُمْسُونَ وَحِينَ تُصْبِحُونَ﴾
« So exalted is Allah when you reach the evening and when you reach the morning. »
Surah الروم : 17
This term appears in 9 verses of the Quran.