A2noun
سِباحة
sibāḥa
swimming
Example
أُحِبّ السِباحة في البَحْر.
uḥibb as-sibāḥa fī al-baḥr.
I love swimming in the sea.
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Arabic root
س-ب-ح
4 words from this root family
B1noun
تَسْبِيحٌ
tasbīḥ
glorification (of God) / saying subḥānAllāh
Example
يُسَبِّحُ لِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ
yusabbiḥu lillāhi mā fī as-samāwāti wa-mā fī al-arḍ
Whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth glorifies Allah (62:1)
Grammar
Masculine verbal noun (maṣdar) of سَبَّحَ (Form II = to glorify). Related: سُبْحَانَ (glory be to), مُسَبِّحٌ (one who glorifies). The original root meaning relates to 'swimming/moving freely.'
Culture
The Quran states that all creation engages in tasbīḥ (glorification of God), even if humans cannot perceive it (17:44). Six surahs begin with forms of this word (the Musabbiḥāt).
A1phrase
سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ
subḥāna Allāh
Glory be to God / God is perfect
Example
سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي أَسْرَىٰ بِعَبْدِهِ لَيْلًا
subḥāna alladhī asrā biʿabdihī laylā
Glory to Him who took His servant on a night journey (17:1)
Grammar
سُبْحَانَ is a maṣdar (verbal noun) used exclusively in the accusative as an absolute object. Always in iḍāfa with God or a pronoun: سُبْحَانَهُ.
Culture
One of the most common phrases of dhikr (remembrance of God). Declaring God's perfection and freedom from any deficiency.
A1phrase
سُبْحَانَهُ
subḥānahū
Glory be to Him / He is exalted
Example
سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
subḥānahū wa-taʿālā ʿammā yushrikūn
Exalted is He and high above what they associate with Him (10:18)
Grammar
سُبْحَانَ (glory, q197 root) + pronoun suffix هُ (Him). Often followed by وَتَعَالَى (and He is exalted). Used to declare God's perfection and transcendence.
Culture
سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى (abbreviated SWT) is said by Muslims after mentioning God's name — a constant declaration of divine perfection.