There are 41 occurrences of “سُبحٰنَ” (sub’haan) as the noun in the Quran, which can be translated to ‘Glory’ referring to God as well as pronouns that take its place. Here are the details of all the references found in the 41 verses across 27 suras to understand that God deserves our glory that we can avoid any kind of idol worship:
[2:32] They said: “Glory is Yours (sub’haanaka), there is no knowledge of us except what You have taught us. Indeed You, You are the Knower, the Wise.”
[2:116] And they said: “God has taken a son.” Glory is His (sub’haanahu). Nay, to Him is all what is in the heavens and in the earth, all are humbled to Him.
[3:191] Those who remember God while standing, and sitting, and on their sides, and they reflect in the creation of the heavens and the earth: “Our Lord, You did not create this in vain. Glory is Yours (sub’haanaka), spare us the retribution of the Fire!”
[4:171] O people of the scripture, do not exceed the limits in your religion, and do not say about God except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, was only a messenger of God, and His word that He had sent to Mary, and a spirit from Him. So, you shall believe in God and His messengers. You shall not say, “Trinity.” You shall refrain, which is better for you. God is only one god. Glory is His (sub’haanahu) that He should have a son for Him! To Him belongs what is in the heavens and what is in the earth. And God is the best Disposer of affairs.
[5:116] And when God said O Jesus, son of Mary: “Have you said to the people, ’Take you and your mother as gods other than God’?” He said: “Glory is Yours (sub’haanaka), it was not (befitting) for me that I say what has not been for me of any right. If I had said it, then certainly, you would have known it; you know what is in my mind while I do not know what is in Your thought. Indeed, You are Knower of the unseen.”
[6:100] And they have made the jinn partners for God, even He has created them. And they have made sons and daughters to Him without having any knowledge. Glory is His (sub’haanahu) and He has exalted above what they attribute.
[7:143] When Moses came at our appointment, and his Lord spoke with him, he said, “My Lord, let me look upon You.” He said, “You cannot see Me. Look at the mountain; if it stays in its place, then you can see Me.” Then, his Lord manifested Himself to the mountain, and He made it to crumble. Moses fell unconscious. When he returned to normal, he said, “Glory to You (sub’haanaka). I repent to You, and I am the first of those who believe.”
[9:31] They have taken their rabbis and their monks to be lords other than God, and the Messiah, son of Mary, while they were commanded to worship One god; there is no god except He. Glory is His (sub’haanahu) from what they associate.
[10:10] Their prayer in it is: “Glory is Yours, O God!” (sub’haanaka allahumma), and their greeting in it is: “Peace,” and their final prayer is: “Praise to God, Lord of the worlds.”
[10:18] And they worship besides God what can neither harm them nor benefit them, and they say: “These are our intercessors with God.” Say: “Do you inform God of what He does not know in the heavens and in the earth?” Glory is His (sub’haanahu), and He is too high above what they associate.
[10:68] They said: “God has taken a son.” Glory is His (sub’haanahu), He is the Most Rich. To Him is what is in the heavens and what is in the earth. You do not have any proof for this. Do you say about God what you do not know?
[12:108] Say: “This is my way, I invite to God with clear understanding, I and whomever follows me. And glory to God (sub’haana allah). And I am not an idol worshiper.”
[16:1] God’s command will come, so do not seek to hasten it. Glory is His (sub’haanahu), and He has exalted above what they associate.
[16:57] And they assign daughters to God. Glory is His (sub’haanahu). And to them is what they desire.
[17:1] Glory to the One who (sub’haana alladhee) took His servant (Muhammad) by night from the Sacred Masjid (of Mecca) to the farthest place of worship which we had blessed its surroundings that we may show him of our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearer, the Seer.
[17:43] Glory is His (sub’haanahu) and He has exalted above what they say a great height.
[17:93] “Or you could have a luxurious house or you could ascend to the sky, but we will not believe in your ascension unless you bring for us a book that we can read.” Say: “Glory to my Lord (sub’haana rabbee). Who am I but a human messenger?”
[17:108] And they say, “Glory to our Lord (sub’haana rabbinaa). Indeed, the promise of our Lord was fulfilled.”
[19:35] It does not befit for God to have a son, glory is His (sub’haanahu). When He decrees any matter, then He just says to it: “Be,” and it is.
[21:22] If there were gods in both of them besides God, there would have been ruined. So glory to God (fa-sub’haana allahi), the Lord of the throne, far above what they attribute
[21:26] And they said: “The Most Gracious has taken a son!” Glory is His (sub’haanahu). No, they are honored servants.
[21:87] And Jonah (Dha al-Nun), abandoned his mission in protest thinking that we could not control him. Then he called in the darkness that: “There is no god except You. Glory is Yours (sub’haanaka). Indeed me, I am one of the wicked.”
[23:91] God has not taken a son, nor is there any god with Him. (if it were) Then every god would have taken what He created and they would have tried to overtake each other. Glory to God (sub’haana allahi) above what they attribute!
[24:16] And when you heard it, you (should have) said: “It is not (good) for us that we speak of this. Glory is Yours (sub’haanaka), this is a big slander.”
[25:18] They said: “Glory is Yours (sub’haanaka), it was not appropriate for us to take any protectors besides You; indeed, You gave them and their fathers luxury until they forgot the remembrance, and they became a ruined people.”
[27:8] Then when he (Moses) came to it, he was called: “Blessed is the One who is at the fire, and the one who is around it. Glory to God (sub’haana allahi), Lord of the worlds.”
[28:68] And your Lord creates what He wills and chooses. They have not any choice for them. Glory to God (sub’haana allahi), He is too high above what they associate (with Him).
[30:17] So glory to God (fa-sub’haana allahi) when you will be in the evening as well as when you will be in the morning.
[30:40] God is the One who created you, then He provided for you, then He will cause you to die, then He will give you life. Is there any of your partners who does any of that thing? Glory to Him (sub’haanahu) and He is too high above what they associate (with Him).
[34:41] They said: “Glory is Yours (sub’haanaka). You are our Protector, not any of them. No, they used to worship the jinn; most of them were believers in them.”
[36:36] Glory to the One who (sub’haana alladhee) created all in pairs of which the earth grows, and of themselves, and of which they do not know.
[36:83] Therefore, glory to the One (fa-sub’haana alladhee) in whose hand is the sovereignty over all things, and to Him you will be returned.
[37:159] Glory to God (sub’haana allahi) above what they attribute.
[37:180] Glory to your Lord (sub’haana rabbika), Lord of the Honor, above what they attribute.
[39:4] If God had wished to have a son, He could have chosen whoever He willed from what He creates. Glory is His (sub’haanahu). He is God, the One, the Supreme.
[39:67] And they have not given God His true worth. The whole earth will be in His fist on the Day of Resurrection, and the heavens will be folded in His right hand. Glory is His (sub’haanahu), and He is too High above what they associate (with Him).
[43:13] That you may sit on their backs; and then may remember your Lord’s favor when you sit on them, and say: “Glory to the One who (sub’haana alladhee) has subjected this for us, and we were not capable of doing this (by ourselves).”
[43:82] Glory to Lord (sub’haana rabbi), the heavens and the earth, Lord of the throne, above what they attribute.
[52:43] Or do they have a god other than God? Glory to God (sub’haana allahi), above what they associate (with Him).
[59:23] He is God who is the One; there is no other god besides Him. The Sovereign, the Sacred, the Peace, the Trustworthy, the Supreme, the Almighty, the Powerful, the Dignified. Glory to God (sub’haana allahi), above what they associate (with Him).
[68:29] They said: “Glory to our Lord (sub’haana rabbanaa). Indeed, we were the wicked.”
Here is the summary of the occasions where ‘Glory to God’ is referred in the Quran so that we can understand our reflection on God as our Lord to worship Him without associating anyone or anything with Him:
- The knowledge that we possess taught by God, the Omniscient, the Most Wise.
- To Him all what is the heavens and the earth, and it is not befitting for Him to have a son as they claim.
- Those who remember Him at all their circumstances realizing that He has not created the heavens and the earth in vain and can only spare them the retribution of the Fire.
- Those who exceed the limit of religion say ‘trinity’ and they should refrain from it as it is not befitting that He should have a son.
- Jesus would be asked whether He had said to his people to take him and his mother as gods. His answer would be: if I had said it, then You would have known it.
- They set up partners with God from the Jinns, and assign sons and daughters to Him without having any knowledge.
- When Moses wanted to see God, He manifested Himself to the mountain and made it to crumble and Moses felt unconscious.
- There are a people who take rabbis, monks and Jesus, son of Mary as their lords while all of us are commanded to worship one God confirming that there is no other god except He.
- There is association with the believers’ prayer, their greeting and their final prayer.
- There are a people who worship besides God what can neither harm them nor benefit them, but claiming them of their intercessors with Him.
- God’s command must come, and do not hasten for it, He is too high above what they associate with Him.
- His servant (Muhammad) was taken from the Sacred Masjid (of Mecca) to the farthest place of worship, while the disbelievers said that we would not believe in your ascension unless you bring for us a book (a physical book) that we can read but the believers said that the promise of our Lord was fulfilled.
- He is not befitting for Him to have a son, when He decrees any matter, just says to it, “Be” and it is.
- If there were gods other than Him, there would have been ruined in the heavens and the earth, and every god would try to overtake each other.
- Jonah abandoned his mission in protest thinking He would not be able to control him, but afterward, he called Him from the darkness.
- Jesus was not a son of God as they claim but he was one of the chosen while all of His chosen are honored servants.
- When we heard a big stander, we should not speak of it as it is not good for us.
- When Moses came to his appointment, he was called: “Blessed is the One who is in the fire and the one who (Moses) is around it. Glory be to God, Lord of the universe.”
- To remember Him when you will be in the evening as well as when you will be in the morning.
- The One who created you and provided for you as well as He will cause you to die and will give you life.
- The One whose hand is the sovereignty over all things, and to whom we will be returned.
- On the Day of Resurrection, the earth will be in His fist and the heavens will be folded in His right hand.
- When the disbelievers meet their Lord will realize their mistakes and wrong doing, and will say, “We were, really the wicked.”
- He is the Creator of the heavens and the earth, and what is in them, is too high above what they associate with Him or they attribute Him.
- He is the Lord of the heavens, the earth and the universe and is too High above what they associate with Him or they attribute Him.
- He is God and is the One; there is no other god besides Him, who is the Sovereign, the Sacred, the Peace, the Faithful, the Supreme, the Almighty, the Powerful, and the Dignified.
Mathematical confirmation
‘Glory be to God’ are found in 41 instances in 41 verses across 27 suras in the Quran while 40 instances in 40 verses across 26 suras are found associated with our prayer as well as to have our proper reflection on God. If the digits of the relevant sura and verse number are added, the total is a multiple of 19 =>3211 = 19x169 (see the table below for details).
Note: The instance of ‘Glory to God’ found in 27:8 is not included in the mathematical confirmation being the statement of God Himself to make it clear for us that all glory belongs to Him while the rest of the instances of ‘Glory to Him’ in the mathematical confirmation code the commandment for us to praise Him with wondrous feelings.
This mathematical confirmation is a physical evidence from the Quran that God deserves all honor and admiration, and we must glorify Him taking heed as needed without associating anything or anyonewith Him. as well as remember and appreciate Him through praising and glorifying Him with our deep reflection and contemplation without associating anything or anyone with Him as there is no other god except He.
Conclusion
The instances of “sub’haan” (Glory) referring to God assert to realize that He deserves all our admiration being the Creator of the heavens and the earth as well as the Lord of the universe. He is the One who deserves all our glorification in our earthly as well as in the heavenly life awaiting us while all of us do not glorify Him and even, many of us who glorify Him are not glorifying Him as He should be glorified realizing that He is too High above what are attributed to Him and what are associated with Him. There is also mathematical confirmation with the instances of sub’haana (Glory) referring to God to strengthen our hearts removing any traces of doubt to believe that God deserves all our glories. Hence, we must make our all efforts to disregard what are attributed to the Creator of the heavens and the earth as well as what are associated with the Lord of the world to avoid misunderstanding and idol worshiping.
However, we may reflect to the fact that this mathematical confirmation is also an indication to the mathematical design of the contact prayer (salat), a prime source of nourishing our soul. The components that can be connected are the recitation : (1) at bowing, (2) at prostration, (3) at sitting and (4) to end the prayer. In the verse, 39:67, the greatness of God has reflected stating that the whole earth will be in His fist and the heavens will be folded in His right hand on the Day of Resurrection as we glorify Him at bowing reciting (sub’haana rabbi al-azeem) to give Him His true worth. In the many verses in the mathematical confirmation have reflected the highness of God stating that glory be to God and He is too High above what they associate (allahi wa-ta’alaa ‘ammaa yushrikun) as we glorify Him at prostration reciting (sub’haana rabbi al-‘alaa) with our deep reflection on Him of His highness, what leaves no optionality of associating anything or anyone with Him. Both at bowing and prostration we praise God with a wondrous feeling, which indicates that the Salat is especially designed for us as well. According to the phrases in 59:23 – (huwa allahi alladhee laa ilaaha illaa huwa) and in 28:68– (sub’haana allahi wa-ta`alaa `ammaa yushrikun) reflect to the recitation in our sitting position (ash-hadu an laa-ilaaha illaa allah wahdahu laa-shareeka lah) known as tashahhud to dedicate our prayer to God as owner of all our praise and prayer being the correct recitation avoiding other words that have corrupted it while Al-Salaam in the verse 59:23 reflects to the recitation of ending the prayer (as-salaamu `alaykum) expecting the peace from God among all the true believers on the earth being al-salaam (the Peace) an attribute of God.
Like ‘Praise to God’, reflection on ‘Glory to God’ may be another opportunity for us to remember and appreciate God at our prayer through praising and glorifying Him without associating anything or anyone with Him as there is no other god except He. Thus, finding the right recitation even verifying with our common sense as well as disregarding those who use and advocate the corrupt recitation at many positions of the prayer without any support from the valid source of our religion, and using the right recitation at all positions with appropriate reflection and realization would help us reach our goal, i.e., to be guided to Paradise (7:43), an excellent place of return (13:29).
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.
Tafazzal (8/11/2017).