‘Which words are best?’ He replied, ‘Those Allah has chosen for His angels: Glory be to Allah, and praise be to Him.’” This expression comes first in the opening invocation, and it is the best of speech. Moreover, Allah has commanded that He be glorified with praise, and has referred to prayer in these terms, saying:

“And glorify your Lord with praise when you rise.”

It is therefore more fitting to begin fulfilling this command with this remembrance. A number of Quran commentators, including al-Dahhāk, have explained this verse as referring to the worshipper’s words: “Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise be to You. Blessed is Your name, exalted is Your majesty, and none is worthy of worship but You.” Elsewhere, I have discussed the meaning of this expression at length and explained that it encompasses declaring Him free of imperfection, praising Him, and magnifying Him through His attributes of permanence and affirmation and all His acts—glory be to Him, and praise be to Him.

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Proclaiming “Allah is the Greatest” is prescribed in elevated places, when a person ascends, and wherever a public proclamation is intended. Examples include proclaiming it in the call to prayer, during the festivals, when ascending high ground, when climbing al-Safā and al-Marwa, and when mounting an animal. Glorifying Allah, by contrast, is prescribed in low places and whenever a person descends. Thus, it is related in the Sunan collections that Jābir said:

“When we were with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, we would proclaim Allah’s greatness whenever we ascended and glorify Him whenever we descended. Prayer was therefore arranged according to this pattern.”