The words:

“Glory be to You”

entail exalting Him and declaring Him free from injustice and all other imperfections. For although glorification is said to entail negating imperfections—and in one of the reports with interrupted chains transmitted by Mūsā ibn Talha from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), the servant’s saying “Glory be to Allah” is explained as:

“Declaring Allah free from evil”—

such negation constitutes praise only when it entails an affirmation. Mere negation contains no praise. Denying evil and imperfection in Him necessarily entails affirming His excellent attributes and His perfection. To Allah belong the most beautiful names. Likewise, the Quran’s statements denying evil and imperfection in Him generally entail affirming His excellent attributes and His perfection.

For example, the Most High says:

“Allah—none is worthy of worship but Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of all. Neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him.”

Denying that drowsiness or sleep overtakes Him entails the perfection of His life and His sustaining of all things. His words:

“And no weariness touched Us”

entail the perfection of His power, and similarly in other instances. Thus, glorification, which declares Him free from evil and denies any imperfection in Him, entails exalting Him.

The words:

“Glory be to You”

therefore declare Him free from injustice and affirm the greatness that necessarily precludes injustice on His part. Whoever acts unjustly does so only out of a need for injustice or out of ignorance. Allah, however, has no need of anything and knows all things. He is inherently self-sufficient, while everything besides Him stands in need of Him. This is perfect greatness.

This supplication also contains both the affirmation of Allah’s sole right to worship and His glorification. The words:

“None is worthy of worship but You”

affirm His sole right to worship, while the words:

“Glory be to You”

glorify Him. It is also recorded in an authentic collection, on the authority of