سُبْحَةٌ
1.
Beads (S, Msb, K, TA) strung (Msb, TA) upon a string or thread, (TA,) [ninety-nine in number, and having a mark after each thirtythree,] with which (by counting them, K) one performs the act termed
التَّسْبِيح [meaning the repetition of the praises of God, generally consisting in repeating the words سُبْحَانَ اللّٰهْ thirtythree times, الحَمْدُ لِلّٰهْ thirty-three times, and اَللّٰهُ أَكْبَرْ thirty-three times, which is done by many persons after the ordinary prayers, as a supererogatory act]: (S, A, Msb, K:) its appellation implies that it is an Arabic word; but Az says that it is post-classical: its plural is سُبَحٌ (Msb) and سُبُحَاتٌ also. (Har p. 133.) See 2, last sentence but one.
2.
Also Invocation of God; or supplication: (K:) and prayer, (A, Msb,) whether obligatory or supererogatory: (Msb:) or supererogatory praise; (S;) and supererogatory prayer; (S, A, Mgh, K;) because of the تَسْبِيحٌ therein. (Mgh.) You say, فُلَانٌ يُصَلِّى السُّبْحَةَ, explained above; see 2, in the latter part of the paragraph. (Msb.) And قَضَىسُبْحَتَهُ
He performed, or finished, his prayer: (A:) or قَضَيْتُ سُبْحَتِى means I performed, or finished, my supererogatory praise and such prayer. (S.) And صَلَّى
السُّبْحَةَ
He performed the supererogatory prayer: (A:) and سُبْحَةَ الضُّحَى [the supererogatory prayer of the period termed
الضُّحَى]. (Msb.)
3.
سُبْحَةُ اللّٰهِ, (IAth, K, TA,) with damm, (TA, [but in my MS. copy of the K written سَبْحَة, and so in the CK,]) means (assumed tropical:) The greatness, or majesty, of God: (IAth, K, TA:) or [the plural] السُّبُحَاتُ, occurring in a tradition, means (assumed tropical:) the greatness, or majesty, and the light [or splendour], of God: (Msb:) or by the saying سُبُحَاتُ وَجْهِ
رَبِّنَا, with damm to the س and ب, is meant (assumed tropical:) the greatness, or majesty, of the face of our Lord: (S:) or سُبُحَاتُ وَجْهِ اللّٰهِ means (assumed tropical:) the lights [or splendours], (K,) or, according to ISh, the light [or splendour], (TA,) of the face of God: (ISh, K, TA:) some say that سُبُحَاتُ الوَجْهِ means (assumed tropical:) the beauties of the face; because, when you see a person of beautiful face, you say, سُبْحَانَ اللّٰهِ [to express your admiration]: and some, that [when it relates to God] it denotes a declaration of his being far removed from every imperfection; meaning سُبْحَانَ وَجْهِهِ. (TA. [See سُبْحَان.]) One says, [addressing God,] أَسْأَلُكَ بِسُبُحَاتِ وَجْهِكَ
الكَرِيمِ, with two dammehs, meaning (tropical:) [I ask Thee] by the evidences of thy greatness, or majesty, [or of the greatness, or majesty, of thy glorious face,] by the acknowledgement whereof thy praise is celebrated. (A.)
4.
السُّبُحَاتُ also signifies (assumed tropical:) The places of prostration [probably meaning in the reciting of the Qur'an]. (K.)
5.
Also, i. e. [the singular,] سُبْحَةٌ, A piece of cotton. (TA.)