Bismillah

Shaykh Abu Eesa Niamatullah compiled a very beneficial collection of ahadeeth that state who the best amongst the Muslims are with explanations for some of the 100 ahadeeth. Here is a selected excerpt:

36. “The most beloved of deeds according to Allāh is that you die and yet your tongue is still moist from the remembrance of Allāh.” (Ibn Hibbān, Hasan)

What greater encouragement can one need to busy oneself day and night with the various adhkār (special words/speech of remembrance) taught to us by the Prophet himself. How convenient then that…

37. “The most beloved words according to Allah the Most High are four: Subhānallāh, Alhamdulillāh, Lā ilāha illallāh and Allāhu Akbar; there is no problem with which one you start with.” (Muslim)

The four great phrases which should make up the mainstay of our daily dhikr:Subhānallāh i.e. ‘Transcendent is Allah (from the imperfections of creation)!’,Alhamdulillāh i.e. ‘All Praise be to Allah’, Lā ilāha illallāh i.e. ‘There is nothing worthy of worship except Allāh’, and Allāhu Akbar i.e. ‘Allāh is the greatest.’

38. “The most beloved of speech according to Allāh is when the servant says, ‘Subhānallāhi wa bihamdihī’ (How Transcendent is Allāh and we praise him!).” (Muslim)

There are many different variations to be found in the books of dhikr, which are based upon the above core formula of ‘How Transcendent (Perfect) is Allāh (above and beyond His creation) and we praise Him.’ I have given a slightly different translation here in order to try and express the concept of Subhānallāh which has no single appropriate word in the English language. Not only is it one of the most common roots of dhikr but also one of the most difficult to translate due to the lack of any language being able to capture the exaltedness and perfection of God, especially when being compared to the utter deficiency of creation, hence He is beyond the limits of all human experience and knowledge except that which He and His Messenger inform us of.

39. “The most beloved of speech according to Allāh the Most High is that which Allāh chose for his Angels: Subhāna Rabbī wa bihamdihī, Subhāna Rabbī wa bihamdihī, Subhāna Rabbī wa bihamdihī.” (Tirmidhi, Sahīh)

What can be more fitting but to emulate those who do nothing better than worshipping Allah perfectly, saying, ‘How Transcendent (and Perfect) is my Lord, and we praise Him.’

This is a hadīth which we also can implement in our lives with all the different levels of fitnah that we are exposed to in our local communities here in the West between differing parties, gaining reward as opposed to losing all our hasanāt and carrying the burden of the sins of others.

Read the whole article here.