SubhanAllah: The Reward of Freeing 100 Slaves – The Immense Power of Dhikr
In a world where success is measured by wealth, possessions, and visible achievements, Islam teaches us a different scale of value — one rooted in sincerity, remembrance, and connection with Allah.
Among the most beautiful examples of this is a powerful hadith of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about saying:
“SubhanAllah” (Glory be to Allah) 100 times.At first glance, it may seem like a simple phrase — light on the tongue, easy to repeat. But in reality, it carries a reward so immense that it shakes the heart when we truly understand it.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ explained that whoever says
“SubhanAllah” 100 times receives the reward equivalent to freeing
100 slaves from the offspring of Prophet Isma’il (peace be upon him).Let us pause and reflect on what this truly means.
Understanding the Weight of Freeing a Slave
Today, many of us cannot fully grasp the magnitude of freeing a slave because slavery is no longer part of our daily societal structure. But in the time of the Prophet ﷺ, slavery was a deeply embedded social and economic system.
Freeing a slave was:
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One of the highest forms of charity
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A financially costly act
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A life-changing liberation for another human being
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A means of expiating major sins
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A deed that earned immense reward from Allah
To free one slave required wealth, sacrifice, and commitment.
Now imagine freeing
one hundred.
And not just any slaves — but from the offspring of Prophet Isma’il (AS), considered among the noblest lineages in Arabia.
This was not a small act. It was a monumental deed of generosity and compassion.
Yet the Prophet ﷺ tells us that simply saying:
“SubhanAllah” 100 timescan earn that same reward.
SubhanAllah.
The Mercy of Allah in Simple Deeds
This hadith is not just about reward. It is about mercy.
Allah ﷻ knows that not everyone has wealth. Not everyone has status. Not everyone has the ability to give large amounts of charity.
But every believer — young or old, rich or poor — can remember Allah.
This is the beauty of Islam.
The doors of Jannah are not reserved only for the wealthy philanthropist or the powerful leader. They are open to the sincere heart that remembers its Lord.
Through dhikr (remembrance of Allah), Islam equalises opportunities for reward.
While someone may spend thousands freeing slaves in the past, another person — sitting quietly in their home — can earn similar reward through sincere remembrance.
This is not to reduce the value of charity.
Rather, it shows the immense generosity of Allah in multiplying rewards.
What Does “SubhanAllah” Really Mean?
Often, we say “SubhanAllah” casually — after seeing something beautiful or surprising.
But linguistically and spiritually, it carries a deep meaning.
“SubhanAllah” means:
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Allah is free from all imperfection
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Allah is pure from any deficiency
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Allah is exalted above any flaw
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Allah is perfect in every attribute
When we say “SubhanAllah,” we declare Allah’s perfection.
We acknowledge:
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His perfect wisdom
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His perfect justice
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His perfect mercy
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His perfect knowledge
We remind ourselves that no matter how chaotic the world appears, Allah is flawless and in complete control.
This is why dhikr transforms the heart.
It corrects our perspective.
It purifies our thoughts.
It strengthens our tawheed.
Why 100 Times?
The number 100 appears often in prophetic teachings regarding dhikr.
Repeating something 100 times:
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Creates discipline
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Builds consistency
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Engrains remembrance into the heart
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Elevates spiritual awareness
It may take only a few minutes — perhaps five to seven minutes of your day.
Yet those minutes can weigh heavily on your scale of good deeds.
Think about how much time we spend scrolling through social media, watching videos, or engaging in idle talk.
What if we replaced just five of those minutes daily with 100 sincere “SubhanAllah”?
Over a year, that becomes:
36,500 glorifications of Allah.
And the reward? Beyond calculation.
The Spiritual Psychology of Dhikr
There is also a profound psychological and spiritual wisdom behind this practice.
When a person constantly says “SubhanAllah”:
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They train their tongue to speak goodness.
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They train their heart to focus on Allah.
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They reduce negative thoughts.
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They calm anxiety and stress.
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They increase gratitude and humility.
Dhikr softens the heart.
It cleanses spiritual rust.
The Prophet ﷺ described the heart as something that rusts like iron — and the polish for it is the remembrance of Allah.
In a world full of noise, dhikr is spiritual oxygen.
The Honour of Prophet Isma’il’s Offspring
The hadith specifically mentions freeing slaves from the offspring of Prophet Isma’il (AS).
Why?
Because they were considered noble among the Arabs. Freeing someone from that lineage was considered even more virtuous and valuable.
This detail highlights the magnitude of the reward.
It was not an average act.
It was an elite, expensive, honourable act of liberation.
And Allah grants that reward for simple glorification.
This shows us how much Allah loves when His servant glorifies Him.
Sincerity Is the Key
However, we must remember:
The reward is not mechanical.
It is not about speed-counting.
It is about sincerity.
When we say “SubhanAllah,” we should:
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Reflect on its meaning
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Feel humility
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Recognise Allah’s greatness
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Remove distractions
Even if it takes longer, saying it with presence of heart is better than rushing through 100 repetitions absent-mindedly.
Quality over quantity.
Though Islam encourages both.
A Gift for Every Situation
One of the beauties of saying “SubhanAllah” is that it can be done anywhere:
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While driving
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While cooking
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Walking to work
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Waiting in line
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Before sleeping
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After salah
There is no special equipment required.
No cost.
No barrier.
Just a tongue and a heart willing to remember Allah.
Imagine if we filled our daily empty moments with dhikr instead of idle talk.
Our scales would overflow.
The Ease of Earning Immense Reward
This hadith teaches us something powerful:
Allah wants to reward us.
He opens doors constantly.
He multiplies small deeds.
He gives enormous reward for simple acts.
Sometimes we complicate our spiritual journey, thinking we must do something extraordinary.
But Islam teaches balance.
Yes, strive for excellence.
Yes, give charity.
Yes, serve humanity.
But never underestimate the small consistent acts.
The Prophet ﷺ said the most beloved deeds to Allah are those that are consistent, even if small.
Transforming Your Daily Routine
Here is a practical suggestion:
Make it a habit to say:
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100x SubhanAllah
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100x Alhamdulillah
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100x Allahu Akbar
Start with SubhanAllah.
Set a daily reminder.
Tie it to an existing routine — after Fajr, before sleeping, or during your commute.
Consistency turns simple acts into mountains of reward.
Final Reflection
Imagine standing on the Day of Judgment.
You see mountains of good deeds in your record.
You wonder where they came from.
And among them is the reward equivalent to freeing 100 slaves — repeated again and again.
All because you chose to glorify your Lord daily.
This is the generosity of Allah.
This is the mercy of Islam.
This is the power of saying:
SubhanAllah.May Allah make our tongues moist with His remembrance, grant us sincerity in our dhikr, and allow us to meet Him with hearts full of glorification.
Ameen.
