The Thana

سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ، وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ، وَلَا إِلَهَ غَيْرُك

Subhaanaka Allahumma wa bihamdika, wa tabaarakasmuka, wa ta'aalaa jadduka, wa laa ilaaha ghayruk

Sunan Abi Dawud 775 · Sahih (Al-Albani)

Abu Said al-Khudri reported that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ stood to pray at night, he said Allahu Akbar and then these words.

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When to say it

In the first rakat only, after the opening Allahu Akbar with your right hand over your left. Then the Isti'adhah, then Al-Fatiha. See it in place in the Dhuhr guide.

The Prophet ﷺ opened the prayer with other words too. One of them is studied in Dua al-Istiftah.

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What it means

1. Subhaanaka Allahumma: glory be to You, O Allah. Subhan means You are far above every flaw, every weakness, everything unworthy of You.
2. wa bihamdika: and with Your praise. We declare Him free of every fault and affirm every perfection in the same breath.
3. wa tabaarakasmuka: blessed is Your name. Barakah, increase and goodness, is in His name itself. It is why we begin with Bismillah.
4. wa ta'aalaa jadduka: exalted is Your majesty. Jadd is greatness and majesty, and His is above all of it.
5. wa laa ilaaha ghayruk: and there is no god besides You. The Shahada again, inside the first words of the prayer.

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Why it matters

You came to the prayer from work, from the street, from noise. Before you ask Him for anything, the prayer begins with who He is. That is the order of Al-Fatiha too: three verses of praise, then You alone we worship and You alone we ask for help.

Abu Said al-Khudri reported that the Prophet ﷺ opened his night prayer with these words after Allahu Akbar.

Sunan Abi Dawud 775 · Sahih (Al-Albani)

It is short. Learn it today, and say it slowly. It sets the heart for everything that follows.