Surah Qaf 50:40 Focus
وَمِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَسَبِّحْهُ وَأَدْبَارَ السُّجُودِ
From the provided explanation: Use the nighttime for Tasbeeh, and declare Allah’s perfection on the backs of the sujood (i.e., at the end of the prayer when prostration is the last main act).
تَسْبِيح — declaring Allah’s perfection سَبِّحْ — imperative (command form) أَدْبَارَ السُّجُودِ — after completing sujood
Language points and insights
سَبِّحْ — تَسْبِيح — سَبَّحَ
سَبِّحْ (Sabbih) is the command form from سَبَّحَ (Sabbaha) and تَسْبيح (Tasbeeh), which means to declare Allah’s perfection whilst keeping constantly in mind the opposite.
By declaring Allah’s perfection, you are acknowledging your own and everything else’s imperfection. Just like when you declare Allah’s greatness, you are acknowledging your own insignificance.
Directive and placement
- Allah is saying here that the Messenger should use the nighttime to declare Allah’s perfection and flawlessness.
- Additionally, declare Allah’s perfection on the backs of the sujood (at the end of the prayer in the case where the prostration is the last main act).
Timing and application
From the night
Use the nighttime to declare Allah’s perfection and flawlessness.
Quiet reflection and Tasbeeh وَأَدْبَارَ السُّجُودِ
Declare Allah’s perfection on the backs of the sujood — at the end of the prayer when prostration is the last main act.
Post-prayer Tasbeeh Supported by the two Sahihs
Practice after every prayer
It was related from Abu Hurairah concerning the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: That they said: “O Messenger of Allah, the people of abundant wealth have made away with the highest degrees and the permanent pleasures”. He said: “How is that?” They said: “They pray as we pray, and strive in Jihad as we do, and spend from their surplus wealth in charity, while we have no wealth (to spend likewise)”. He said: “Shall I not tell you a thing, by doing which, you will catch up with those who are ahead of you and supersede those who will come after you; and nobody will be able to do such as you do except the one who does the same (deed as you do). To say SubhaanAllah ten times, and Al-Hamdu Lillah ten times, and Allahu Akbar' ten times after every prayer”.
10 × سُبْحَانَ الله
10 × الْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ
10 × اللّٰهُ أَكْبَر
This narration supports the reference to Tasbeeh after Salah.
Mindsets cultivated by Tasbeeh
Perfection acknowledged
Declaring Allah’s perfection entails acknowledging our own and everything else’s imperfection.
Greatness recognized
Declaring Allah’s greatness entails acknowledging our own insignificance.
Focus words from the ayah
سَبِّحْهُ
Imperative to declare Allah’s perfection — the act of Tasbeeh.
أَدْبَارَ السُّجُودِ
Placement: at the end of the prayer when prostration is the final main act.