Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Whoever says, 'Subhan Allah wa bihamdihi,' one hundred times a day, will be forgiven all his sins even if they were as much as the foam of the sea.
The Excellence of Glorifying Allah
This noble hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari (6405) reveals the immense spiritual reward for the simple yet profound remembrance of Allah. The phrase "Subhan Allah wa bihamdihi" combines two fundamental aspects of worship: declaring Allah's absolute perfection from all deficiencies (tasbih) while simultaneously praising Him with all His magnificent attributes (tahmid).
Scholarly Commentary
The great hadith master Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani explains in Fath al-Bari that this comprehensive dhikr encompasses both negation of imperfections and affirmation of perfection. The sins forgiven refer to minor sins, as major sins require specific repentance according to scholarly consensus.
Imam al-Nawawi states in his commentary that the "foam of the sea" serves as a magnificent metaphor illustrating the vast quantity of sins that can be erased through this simple, consistent act of worship performed with sincerity and proper understanding.
The condition of repeating it one hundred times daily teaches us the importance of consistency in worship and making dhikr a permanent feature of one's daily routine, transforming the heart through constant remembrance of the Divine.
Spiritual Benefits
This invocation purifies the heart from spiritual diseases, increases one's faith, and brings the servant closer to their Lord. The combination of tasbih and hamd in a single phrase makes it particularly comprehensive and beloved to Allah.
The promise of forgiveness demonstrates Allah's infinite mercy and shows how He has made the path to salvation accessible to all believers, regardless of their station in life or level of knowledge.