THE MEANING OF GLORIFICATION (TASBIH) AS EXALTATION (TANZIH)
When we examine the verses where Tasbih appears as a noun rather than a command in verb form, we see that Subḥān (سُبْحَان) takes on meanings such as "keeping away from deficiency" and "exaltation/sanctification" (tanzih). Combined with various pronouns, it takes the following meanings:
Subḥāneka (سُبْحَانَكَ): "I exalt You," "You are far above all deficiencies."
Subḥānahu (سُبْحَانَهُ): "He is far above all deficiencies."
Subḥāna’llāh (سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ): "Allah is far above all deficiencies."
When looking at the context of the verses, we see a consciousness in expressing the unity (tawhid) and greatness of Allah. In other words, tasbih in these verses is not performed with words repeated on prayer beads; rather, it is used as the reflection of a person’s conscious tawhid awareness in response to given examples. In all these examples, it is beautifully explained that a person must demonstrate their stance consciously and verbally against various situations involving shirk (associating partners with God), and again, act in the name of Allah.
In the verses below, the parts translated as "You are Exalted," "He is Exalted," or "Allah is Exalted," etc., are given as English equivalents of the words derived from the root s-b-h that appear as nouns. When all the verses are read, it is clearly evident—even just from the context—how the word is used by the Quran with a newly assigned meaning.
Subhaneke (Glory be to You / You are Exalted)
Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 32
(The angels) said: "You are Exalted; we have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Indeed, it is You who is the Knowing, the Wise."
Surah Al-i 'Imran, Verse 191
...They remember Allah while standing, sitting, or [lying] on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], "Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; You are Exalted. Protect us from the punishment of the Fire."
Surah Al-Ma'idah, Verse 116
And [beware the Day] when Allah will say, "O Jesus, Son of Mary, did you say to the people, 'Take me and my mother as two deities besides Allah?'" He will say, "(Exalted are You)! You are Exalted. It was not for me to say that to which I have no right..."
Surah Al-Furqan, Verse 18
They (the angels) will say, "You are Exalted! It was not proper for us to take any allies besides You. But You provided comforts for them and their fathers until they forgot the message and became a people ruined."
Surah Saba', Verse 41
They (the angels) will say, "You are Exalted! You are our benefactor, not them. Rather, they used to worship the jinn; most of them were believers in them."
Surah Al-A'raf, Verse 143
...When he (Moses) awoke, he said, "You are Exalted! I have repented to You, and I am the first of the believers."
Surah Yunus, Verse 10
Their call therein will be, "O Allah, You are Exalted!" and their greeting therein will be, "Peace." And the last of their call will be, "Praise to Allah, Lord of the worlds!"
Surah Al-Anbiya, Verse 87
...And he (Jonah) called out within the darknesses, "There is no deity except You; You are Exalted. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers."
Surah An-Nur, Verse 16
And why, when you heard it, did you not say, "It is not for us to speak of this. You are Exalted (O Allah); this is a great slander!"
Subhanahu (Glory be to Him / He is Exalted)
Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 116
They say, "Allah has taken a son." (Exalted is He)! He is Exalted. Rather, to Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth. All are devoutly obedient to Him.
Surah An-Nisa, Verse 171
...Allah is but one God. He is Exalted above having a son. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth...
Surah Al-An'am, Verse 100
But they have attributed to Allah partners—the jinn—while He has created them—and have fabricated for Him sons and daughters without knowledge. He is Exalted and high above what they describe.
Surah At-Tawbah, Verse 31
They have taken their scholars and monks as lords besides Allah, and [also] the Messiah, the son of Mary. And they were not commanded except to worship one God. There is no deity except Him. He is Exalted above whatever they associate with Him.
Surah Yunus, Verse 18
...Say, "Do you inform Allah of something He does not know in the heavens or on the earth?" He is Exalted and high above what they associate with Him.
Surah Yunus, Verse 68
They have said, "Allah has taken a son." (Exalted is He)! He is Exalted. He is the [one] Free of need. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth...
Surah An-Nahl, Verse 1
The command of Allah is coming, so be not impatient for it. He is Exalted and high above what they associate with Him.
Surah An-Nahl, Verse 57
And they assign to Allah daughters—He is Exalted—and for themselves [they assign] what they desire (sons).
Surah Al-Isra, Verse 43
He is Exalted and high above what they say by great sublimity.
Surah Maryam, Verse 35
It is not [befitting] for Allah to take a son; He is Exalted! When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, "Be," and it is.
Surah Al-Anbiya, Verse 26
And they say, "The Most Merciful has taken a son." He is Exalted! Rather, they are [but] honored servants.
Surah Ar-Rum, Verse 40
...Is there any of your "partners" who does anything of that? He is Exalted and high above what they associate with Him.
Surah Az-Zumar, Verse 4
If Allah had intended to take a son, He could have chosen from what He creates whatever He willed. He is Exalted; He is Allah, the One, the Prevailing.
Surah Az-Zumar, Verse 67
They have not appraised Allah with true appraisal... He is Exalted and high above what they associate with Him.
Subhana / Subhane (Exalted is...)
Surah Yusuf, Verse 108
Say, "This is my way; I invite to Allah with insight, I and those who follow me. Allah is Exalted! And I am not of those who associate others with Him."
Surah Al-Anbiya, Verse 22
Had there been within the heavens and earth gods besides Allah, they both would have been ruined. So Exalted is Allah, Lord of the Throne, above what they describe.
Surah Al-Mu'minun, Verse 91
Allah has not taken any son, nor has there ever been with Him any deity... Exalted is Allah above what they describe.
Surah An-Naml, Verse 8
...“Blessed is whoever is within the fire and whoever is around it. And Exalted is Allah, Lord of the worlds."
Surah Al-Qasas, Verse 68
And your Lord creates what He wills and chooses; not for them was the choice. Exalted is Allah and high above what they associate with Him.
Surah At-Tur, Verse 43
Or have they a deity other than Allah? Exalted is Allah above whatever they associate with Him.
Surah Al-Isra, Verse 1
Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al-Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed...
Surah Al-Isra, Verse 93
...Say, "My Lord is Exalted! Was I ever but a human messenger?"
Surah Al-Isra, Verse 108
And they say, "We exalt our Lord! Indeed, the promise of our Lord has been fulfilled."
Surah Yasin, Verse 36
Exalted is He who created all pairs—from what the earth grows and from themselves and from that which they do not know.
Surah Yasin, Verse 83
So Exalted is He in whose hand is the dominion of all things, and to Him you will be returned.
Surah As-Saffat, Verse 180
Exalted is your Lord, the Lord of might, above what they describe.
Surah Az-Zukhruf, Verse 13
...That you may remember the favor of your Lord when you have settled upon them and say, "Exalted is He who has subjected this to us, and we could not have [otherwise] subdued it."
Surah Az-Zukhruf, Verse 82
Exalted is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, Lord of the Throne, above what they describe.
Surah Al-Qalam, Verse 29
They said, "Our Lord is Exalted! Indeed, we were wrongdoers."