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The origin of ‘Subhanallahi wal hamdulillahi’

Is the following narration authentic? It has become very popular on social media

The third kalimah has a unique and very interesting story behind it. It all started before Allah Ta’ala created Adam (‘alayhis salam). The Angels were trying to move the ‘Arsh (Throne) of Allah Ta’ala but it was too heavy and wouldn’t budge. So they asked Almighty Allah for help. Allah told them to recite “Subhanallah.” The Angels did as they were told and found that it gave them power and strength and they were able to move the Arsh. They liked this so much that they began constantly hymning “Subhanallah.”- (Glory be to Allah)

Then Allah created Adam (‘alayhis salam). When Allah blew life into Adam, the first thing he did was sneeze and say “Alhamdulillah” (All praise be to Allah) The angels liked this act so much that they added this to their praise and glorification of Allah. Thus the kalimah became “Subhanallah Walhamdulillah”

Hundreds of years passed and Nuh (‘alayhis salam) was now on earth. For nine hundred years he proclaimed the oneness of Allah with the words “La illaha illalah.” (There is none worthy of worhip The Angels loved this act so much that they added this to the kalimah. Thus, the kalimah now became “Subhanallah Walhamdulillah Wa La illaha illalah.”

The Angels kept repeating this kalimah day and night. Many centuries passed and Ibrahim (alayhis salam) was asked by Almighty Allah to sacrifice his beloved son Isma’il (‘alayhis salam). He was about to slaughter his son and He needed something to give him the courage he needed to do this difficult deed. So he recited “Allahu Akbar.” (Allah is Great) The Angels loved this act so much that they added “Allahu Akbar” to the kalimah. Thus the kalimah became “Subhanallah Walhamdulillah Wa La illaha illalah Allahu Akbar.” More centuries passed. It was the night of Mi’raj, when our Beloved Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) ascended to the Heavens with Jibril (‘alayhis salam). There Jibril (‘alayhis salaam) told Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) the story and Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) added the final part of the Kalimah “Wala Howla Wa La Quwata Illah Billah Hil Aliyil Azim.”

Thus the kalimah now became Subhanallah Walhamdulillah Wa La illaha illalah Allahu Akbar Wala Howla Wa La Quwata Illah Billah Hil Aliyil Azim” (There is no Power and Might except from Allah, The Most High, The Great)

Answer

After searching, I have not come across this lengthy Hadith in any authentic Hadith collection.

One should be cautious and abstain from quoting a Hadith (like the one in question) when the Hadith is untraceable in any original Hadith source, until its authenticity can be verified.

There are numerous other virtues of ‘Subhanallahi wal hamdulillah’ which should be quoted instead. See an example here.

Although the above Hadith could not be verified, the following should be noted:

1) There are numerous reports which state that Adam (‘alayhis salam) did indeed sneeze after Allah Ta’ala created him. Among them are the following:

1.1) Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

“When Allah Ta’ala created Adam and blew a soul into him, he sneezed and said ‘Alhamdulillah’ [All praise belongs to Allah]. So he praised Allah by His permission. Allah then said, ‘Rahimakallahu ya Adam’ [May Allah have mercy on you O Adam], go to those seated Angels and say ‘As salamu ‘alaykum’. The Angels replied ‘wa ‘alaykas salam wa rahmatullah’. Adam (‘alayhis salam) then returned to Allah and Allah said, ‘This is your greeting and the greeting of your children among each other…”

(Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 3368. Declared sound –hasan– by Imam Tirmidhi and authentic by Imam Ibn Hibban; Al Ihsan, Hadith: 6167)

1.2) Sayyiduna Anas ibn Malik (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

” [When Allah] blew the soul into Adam, and the soul reached his head, he sneezed and said ‘Alhamdulillahi Rabbil ‘Alamin’. Allah Ta’ala said ‘Yarhamukallah’”

(Sahih Ibn Hibban; Al Ihsan, Hadith: 6165)

2) The Hadith in question suggests that Allah commanded the Angels to read ‘Subhanallah’ when they were unable to move the ‘Arsh. However Imam Ibn Jarir At Tabari (rahimahullah) has cited a narration in his Tafsir as the statements of ‘Abdur Rahman ibn Zayd ibn Aslam Al ‘Adawi [rahimahullah] , a Tab’ut Tabi’i, which suggest that Allah Ta’ala instructed the Angels to recite ‘La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah’ when they were unable to move Allah’s Throne. Upon reciting this, Allah Ta’ala gave them the strength to carry his throne.

(Tafsir At Tabari, Surah Al Haqah, verse: 17)

Imam Tha’labi (rahimahullah) has recorded a similar narration as the statements of Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (radiyallahu ‘anhuma)

(Tafsir Tha’labi)

This particular narration [Where Allah Ta’ala commanded the Angels to recite ‘La hawla wa la quwwata illah billah’] seems to be a Historical [Israely] Narration and should not be quoted as a Hadith of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar

This answer was collected from HadithAnswers.com. The answers were either answered or checked by Moulana Haroon Abasoomar (rahimahullah) who was a Shaykhul Hadith in South Africa, or by his son, Moulana Muhammad Abasoomer (hafizahullah), who is a Hadith specialist. 

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