between the heavens and the earth.’ The narrator was uncertain whether the Prophet ﷺ said, “they fill the space between the heavens and the earth,” or “it fills the space between the heavens and the earth.”

In either wording the meaning is the same: the phrases subḥān Allāh and al-ḥamdu li-llāh fill what lies between the heavens and the earth. The reason is that these two expressions together comprise declaring Allah free of every deficiency—in one’s saying subḥān Allāh—and ascribing to Him every perfection—in one’s saying al-ḥamdu li-llāh.

Thus the two words combine what scholars call removal and adornment: negating every flaw and shortcoming, and affirming every perfection. In subḥān Allāh lies the negation of defects; in al-ḥamdu li-llāh lies the affirmation of perfections.

Tasbīḥ therefore means holding Allah far above anything unbefitting His names, attributes, actions, or rulings.

Allah is to be praised in every circumstance, and whenever something pleasing befell the Prophet ﷺ he would say, “al-ḥamdu li-llāh ʿalā kull ḥāl” (praise be to Allah in every circumstance). Of late, however, a phrase has become widespread among many people: “al-ḥamdu li-llāh alladhī lā yuḥmadu ʿalā makrūhin siwāh” (“praise be to Allah; none but He is praised for what is disliked”).

Such praise is incomplete! For saying “for what is disliked” betrays a lack of patience, or—