Abu al-Hasan Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Abdullah bin Hamza al-Sha'rani al-Amari, from the descendants of Ammar bin Yasir, informed us, saying: Abu Muhammad Ubayd Allah bin Yahya bin Abdul-Baqi al-Adni in Adna informed us, saying: Ali bin al-Hasan al-Ma'ani informed us, saying: Abdullah bin Yazid informed us, from Yahya bin Uqba bin Abi al-'Aizar, who said: Muhammad bin Hajar informed us, from Yazid bin al-Asam, who said:
A man asked Umar ibn al-Khattab: "O Commander of the Faithful, what is the interpretation of 'Subhan Allah'?" Umar replied: "In this wall, there is a man who, when asked, informs, and when left silent, he begins (to speak)." The man entered, and it was Ali ibn Abi Talib (as). So he asked: "O Abu al-Hasan, what is the interpretation of 'Subhan Allah'?" Ali replied: "It is the glorification of the majesty of Allah Almighty and the declaration of His transcendence above what any polytheist has said about Him. When a servant says it, every angel prays for him."