“There is nothing that does not glorify Him with His praise.” Ibn Abbas is reported to have said: “There is no living thing that does not glorify Him with His praise.”

Qatadah said: “This refers to animals and growing things.”

Ikrimah said: “The tree glorifies, whereas the pillar does not glorify.”

Al-Miqdam ibn Ma'di Karib reported: “The soil glorifies so long as it does not become wet; once it becomes wet, it ceases to glorify. A bead glorifies so long as it is not moved from its place; once it is moved, it ceases to glorify. A leaf glorifies as long as it remains upon the tree; once it falls, it ceases to glorify. A garment glorifies as long as it is new; once it becomes soiled, it ceases to glorify. Water glorifies as long as it flows; once it becomes stagnant, it ceases to glorify. Wild beasts and birds glorify when they cry out; once they fall silent, they cease to glorify.”

Ibrahim al-Nakha'i said: “There is no inanimate thing that does not glorify Him with His praise—even the creaking of a door and the cracking of a roof.”

Mujahid said: “All things glorify Allah, whether living, dead, or inanimate. Their glorification is: ‘Subhan Allah wa bihamdihi’—‘Glory be to Allah and praise be to Him.’”

Abd al-Wahid al-Mulayhi informed us; Ahmad ibn Abd Allah al-Nu'aymi informed us; Muhammad ibn Yusuf informed us; Muhammad ibn Isma'il narrated to us; Muhammad ibn al-Muthanna informed us; Abu Ahmad al-Zubayr informed us; Isra'il informed us, from Mansur, from Ibrahim, from Alqamah, from Abd Allah, who said: “We used to regard the signs as blessings, whereas you regard them as warnings. We were travelling with the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, when water became scarce. He said, ‘Look for whatever water remains.’ They brought a vessel containing a little water, and he placed his hand in the vessel. Then he said, ‘Come to the blessed water for purification; blessing is from Allah.’ I saw water gush forth from between the fingers of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and we used to hear the food glorifying Allah as it was being eaten.” (1)

Some scholars concerned with meanings said: The heavens, the earth, inanimate objects, and all other creatures apart from rational beings glorify Allah insofar as their subtle composition and wondrous form point to their Creator; this thereby stands in the place of glorification on their part.

The first view, however, is the one transmitted from the early generations. (2)

Know that Allah Most High has granted inanimate objects a knowledge that none besides Him can comprehend; its knowledge should therefore be entrusted to Him.

“But you do not comprehend their glorification”: that is, you do not know the glorification of those that do not glorify in your own languages and tongues. “Indeed, He is Most Forbearing, Most Forgiving.”