فَسَبِّح بِاسمِ رَبِّكَ العَظيمِ

So celebrate the name of your Lord, the all-supreme.

EXEGESIS

Sabbiḥ (celebrate) is often translated as glorify. A cluster of surahs begin with derivatives of this word (sabbaḥa, yusabbiḥu, subḥāna), all with the meaning of tasbīḥ (to glorify or celebrate) the name of God, and these are collectively known as the musabbiḥāt surahs.^{‎[1]Al-musabbiḥāt, literally ‘the celebrating’ chapters, are usually considered to be Surahs 57, 59, 61, 62, 64, and sometimes 17 and 87 are also included.}

The glorification (tasbīḥ) of God is similar to His praise (ḥamd), both of which occur copiously in the Quran. But whereas tasbīḥ celebrates His transcendence (tanzīh), purifying God from all attributes and whatever we might imagine about Him (42:11), ḥamd, on the other hand, is the praise of God for His bounties and His acts, acknowledging His immanence (tashbīh).

Tanzīh declares God’s incomparability and distance from humanity whereas tashbīh speaks of His closeness to His creation as a ‘personal’ God. The two concepts co-exist simultaneously and both are true at once, eternally juxtaposed, and hence, the Quran often speaks of the tasbīḥ and ḥamd of God (as representing His transcendence and immanence respectively) together: yusabbiḥu bi-ḥamdihi (13:13, 17:44), nusabbiḥu bi-ḥamdika (2:30), sabbiḥ bi-ḥamdihi (25:58), and sabbiḥ bi-ḥamdi rabbika (15:98, 20:130, 40:55, 50:39, 52:48), all offering the meaning of celebrating His praise.

For more on the etymology of ḥamd or tamḥīd (the praise) of God, see the Exegesis of 1:2, and for more on the tasbīḥ (glorification or celebration) of God’s name, see 57:1.

The prefix conjunction particle bi (with) allows for the verse to also be read as: So celebrate with the name of your Lord, the all-supreme.^{‎[2]Nasr, 69:52.} See also the Exegesis of 1:1 for the compound word bi-smi.

The meaning of rabb (Lord) was already explained earlier in this surah under verse 43.

EXPOSITION

The last two verses in this surah are almost identical to the last two verses in Sūrat al-Wāqiʿah (56) and, in fact, this very last verse is repeated twice in that surah (56:74 and 56:96). Several chapters of the Quran open with a verse glorifying God and celebrating His name and these, as mentioned in the Exegesis, are known as the musabbiḥāt chapters.

Like many verses, the command is in the singular and addressed to the Prophet alone but intended for all who follow him. The faithful are commanded to celebrate the name of their Lord as a means of thanksgiving for all His bounties, not least of which is His guidance to the straight path. It is also a declaration of one’s faith in God and, in the context of the preceding verses, one’s faith in the genuineness of God’s revelation and His messenger, Prophet Muhammad (s). In glorifying the name of the all-supreme Lord, the faithful is also testifying that God is far above – and removed – from the falsity of creating His creation in vain and with no Day of Judgement to account for their existence and life in this world. It affirms and celebrates that which the polytheist denies – Indeed he had no faith in Allah, the all-supreme (verse 33).

INSIGHTS FROM HADITH

1. From the Prophet: ‘One of the most beloved words to Allah, Almighty, is to exclaim: “Celebrated is the name of my Lord, the all-supreme!”’^{‎[3]Kanz, 1/466.}
2. When this verse was revealed, the Prophet said: ‘Make it a part of your [recitation whilst] bowing (rukūʿ) [in prayer].’^{‎[4]Suyuti, 6/338; Thaalabi, 5/480.}

INSIGHTS FROM OTHER TRADITIONS

1. Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.^{‎[5]Deuteronomy 32:3-4.}
2. Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, Stand up and bless the LORD your God for ever and ever: and blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.^{‎[6]Nehemiah 9:5.}
3. Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious.^{‎[7]Psalms 66:2.}
4. All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah.^{‎[8]Psalms 66:4.}
5. His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed. Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.^{‎[9]Psalms 72:17-19.}
6. Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.^{‎[10] 1 Chronicles 16:10.}
7. Glory and honour are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place. Give unto the LORD, ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.^{‎[11] 1 Chronicles 16:28-29.}
8. Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.^{‎[12] Psalms 96:7.}
9. Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy.^{‎[13] Psalms 99:3.}
10. Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’S name is to be praised. The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.^{‎[14] Psalms 113:1-4.}
11. Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created.^{‎[15] Psalms 148:5.}
12. Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.^{‎[16] Psalms 148:13.}
13. Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might.^{‎[17] Jeremiah 10:6.}
14. Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:^{‎[18] Daniel 2:20.}
15. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.^{‎[19] Matthew 6:9.}
16. And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.^{‎[20] Luke 11:2.}

[1] Al-musabbiḥāt, literally ‘the celebrating’ chapters, are usually considered to be Surahs 57, 59, 61, 62, 64, and sometimes 17 and 87 are also included.
[2] Nasr, 69:52.
[3] Kanz, 1/466.
[4] Suyuti, 6/338; Thaalabi, 5/480.
[5] Deuteronomy 32:3-4.
[6] Nehemiah 9:5.
[7] Psalms 66:2.
[8] Psalms 66:4.
[9] Psalms 72:17-19.
[10] 1 Chronicles 16:10.
[11] 1 Chronicles 16:28-29.
[12] Psalms 96:7.
[13] Psalms 99:3.
[14] Psalms 113:1-4.
[15] Psalms 148:5.
[16] Psalms 148:13.
[17] Jeremiah 10:6.
[18] Daniel 2:20.
[19] Matthew 6:9.
[20] Luke 11:2.