Subhana Rabbiyal Ala Meaning, Arabic, Pronunciation And Hadith

Subhana rabbiyal ala is an Arabic phrase that has significance in Salah (prayer) and is commonly used as a form of remembrance during sujud.

It is used as a declaration of the greatness of Allah and is often recited by Muslims during prayer.

In this blog, we will delve deeper into the meaning and importance of Subhana rabbiyal ala.

Subhana Rabbiyal Ala Meaning In English

Subhana Rabbiyal A’la means Glory be to my Lord, the Most High. It means glorifying the One Who is exalted in His Essence. The meaning of tasbeeh (glorifying Allah) is declaring Allah, may He be exalted, to be far above any shortcoming or fault.

So when you say “Subhan Allah (Glory be to Allah)”, what it means is: I declare You, O Lord, to be far above and free of any shortcoming or fault.

Subhana Rabbiyal A la In Arabic

Here is how to write Subhana Rabbiyal A la in Arabic text.

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الأَعْلَى

Watch how to pronounce this Arabic phrases in the video below.

Hadith On Subhana Rabbiy al Ala

1. Hadith

It was narrated that Hudhaifah said: “I prayed with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and he bowed and said when bowing: ‘Subhana Rabbial-azim (Glory be to my Lord Almighty).’ And when prostrating: ‘Subhana Rabbial-‘Ala (Glory be to my Lord Most High).'”

Source: Sunan an-Nasa’i 1046

2. Hadith

Hudhaifah narrated that: he performed Salat with the Prophet, and that while he was bowing he would say:

(Subhana Rabbiyal Azim); “Glorious is my Lord the Magnificent” and while prostrating: (Subhana Rabbiyal A’la) ‘Glorious is my Lord the Most High.’

And he would not recite an Ayah mentioning mercy, except that he would stop and ask (for mercy), and he would not recite an Ayah mentioning punishment, except that he would stop and seek refuge (with Allah from it).

Source: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 262

It is unlawful for one to recite the Qur’an during the bowing or prostration position. The bowing position is meant for glorification.

And you should make a lot of invocations so that they may be granted.

Aboo Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Prophet SAW said,

“A slave becomes nearest to his Lord when he is in prostration. So increase supplications while prostrating.”

This is because when a person prostrates, he brings the noblest part of his body parts to where he places his feet, a place he steps on with the feet.

Similarly, he places the uppermost part of his body on the same level as the lowest part of his body; that is, his face is the highest part of his body and his feet is the lowest part of his body.

So he places them on the same level in humility, reverence and submission to Allah, the Mighty and Sublime. That is why a slave is closest to his Lord when he is in prostration.

As previously explained, the Prophet SAW instructed that a lot of supplication should be made during prostration.

This state and this statement combine humility to Allah. Accordingly, a person says in his prostration:

Subhaana Rabbi Al-A’alaa (meaning: Glory be to my Lord, the Most High) indicating that He, the Mighty and Sublime, is the Most High and Most Exalted in His essence and attributes and that man is lowly and inferior to the Majesty of Allah, the most High, and His greatness.

Keep in mind the fact that you are in front of Allah Ta’ala and that you have submitted yourself totally to him Alone because of which you have placed the most respected part of your body (your face) on the ground
in prostration for Allah Ta’ala who is the highest and most supreme.

Allah Ta’ala is al-A’alaa – the most elevated and high, i.e. Allah Ta’ala in His loftiness, Majesty and grandeur is far beyond the highest point that anyone may think. 

Allah Ta’ala together with all his qualities is beyond comprehension.

It is impossible for anyone trying to describe the loftiness of Allah Ta’ala to do justice in his description.

In Sajda, ponder, you are the closest that a person can ever get unto Allah Ta’ala as mentioned by Prophet Muhammad
(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) in a Hadith.

In another Hadith, the Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) is reported to have said that every time one prostrates in Sajda to Allah Ta’ala, then Allah elevates his status in Jannah and wipes out a sin from his record.