Question
Assalamu
Alaikum, Sheikh.
What is Salat al-Tasbih? How is it performed, and what is the authenticity of the hadith concerning it?
Answer
Wa Alaikumus Salam
wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
May Allah grant us
beneficial knowledge, guide us to what is correct, and accept our acts of
worship.
1.
What Is Salat al-Tasbih?
Salat al-Tasbih is
a voluntary prayer described in narrations attributed to Prophet Muhammad
(peace and blessings be upon him). It consists of four rak'ahs and includes
repeated recitation of the following words of remembrance:
Arabic:
سُبْحَانَ
اللَّهِ، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، وَلَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Transliteration:
Subhanallahi
wal-hamdu lillahi wa la ilaha illallahu wallahu akbar.
English
meaning:
“Glory be to
Allah, all praise belongs to Allah, there is no deity worthy of worship except
Allah, and Allah is the Greatest.”
The prayer is
called Salat al-Tasbih because these words are repeated throughout its four
rak'ahs.
2.
How Is Salat al-Tasbih Performed?
The method
described in the narration is as follows.
Step 1:
Make the intention and begin the prayer
Intend in your
heart to perform four rak'ahs of voluntary prayer. Begin with the opening
takbir, saying Allahu Akbar.
Step 2:
Recite Al-Fatihah and another surah
In the first
rak'ah, recite Surah Al-Fatihah followed by another surah from the Qur'an.
After completing
the recitation, while still standing, say the Tasbih formula 15 times.
Step 3:
Perform the bowing (Ruku')
Proceed into ruku'
and recite the usual glorification for bowing. Then say the Tasbih formula 10
times.
Step 4:
Rise from ruku'
Rise to the
standing position and recite the usual remembrance, such as Rabbana wa
lakal-hamd. Then say the Tasbih formula 10 times.
Step 5:
Perform the first prostration (Sujud)
Go into sujud and
recite the usual glorification for prostration. Then say the Tasbih formula 10
times.
Step 6:
Sit between the two prostrations
Rise from the
first sujud and sit as usual. Recite the customary supplication between the two
prostrations, then say the Tasbih formula 10 times.
Step 7:
Perform the second prostration
Perform the second
sujud, recite the usual glorification, and say the Tasbih formula 10
times.
Step 8:
Sit after the second prostration
After the second
sujud, sit and say the Tasbih formula 10 times before standing
for the next rak'ah.
This completes 75
repetitions in one rak'ah.
Repeat the method
in each of the four rak'ahs. The prayer therefore contains a total of 300
repetitions of the Tasbih formula.
|
Position |
Number of repetitions |
|
After Al-Fatihah and another surah, while standing |
15 |
|
During ruku' |
10 |
|
After rising from ruku' |
10 |
|
During the first sujud |
10 |
|
While sitting between the two sujuds |
10 |
|
During the second sujud |
10 |
|
While sitting after the second sujud |
10 |
|
Total per rak'ah |
75 |
|
Total for four rak'ahs |
300 |
Continue the
prayer according to the normal rules of a four-rak'ah voluntary prayer,
including the appropriate sitting for tashahhud and the concluding salam.
The narration
describes this as a four-rak'ah prayer. Details concerning the precise
placement of some repetitions have been discussed by scholars, so a person
following a particular school of jurisprudence should consult a trusted scholar
for guidance.
3.
What Is the Authenticity of the Hadith About Salat al-Tasbih?
This is an
important question because scholars of hadith have differed over the
authenticity of the narrations concerning Salat al-Tasbih.
The narration
commonly cited is reported from Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with
him), concerning the Prophet's advice to his uncle, Al-Abbas ibn Abd
al-Muttalib (may Allah be pleased with him).
In the narration,
the Prophet ﷺ teaches him a
four-rak'ah prayer containing these repeated words of remembrance and mentions
a great reward associated with it.
The report is
found in collections including Sunan Abi Dawud (Hadith 1297) and Jami'
al-Tirmidhi (Hadith 481). See the discussion of the narration and its
grading at IslamQA.org:
Authenticity of the Hadith Regarding Salat al-Tasbih. <Cite
refs={["turn208892search0","turn208892search8"]}/>
Scholars
who accept the hadith
A number of hadith
scholars considered the narration authentic or acceptable when its different
chains of transmission are considered together. Among the scholars cited in
support of this position are Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani and others. Some scholars of
the Hanafi and Shafi'i schools consequently regard Salat al-Tasbih as a
recommended voluntary prayer. <Cite
refs={["turn208892search0","turn208892search4","turn208892search5"]}/>
Scholars
who consider the hadith weak
Other scholars
considered the narrations weak and concluded that Salat al-Tasbih should not be
regarded as an established Sunnah. This view is associated with scholars
including Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn Uthaymin, and is discussed in the following
scholarly answer: IslamQA: Is
Salat al-Tasbih prescribed in Islam?. <Cite
refs={["turn208892search2","turn208892search3"]}/>
Therefore, it
would be inaccurate to claim that there is no scholarly disagreement about the
hadith. The disagreement concerns the reliability of its narrations and whether
the prayer is established as a recommended act of worship.
A Muslim should
approach this issue with knowledge and respect for recognised scholarly
differences rather than condemning others over the matter.
4.
What Is the Virtue of Salat al-Tasbih?
The narration
describes forgiveness of sins as a great virtue of this prayer. It also
mentions performing it frequently if one is able, with less frequent intervals
for someone unable to do so.
However, because
scholars differ over the authenticity of the narration, the promised reward
should be presented as what the report mentions, rather than as an uncontested
guarantee.
Regardless of this
particular disagreement, Muslims are encouraged to engage in voluntary prayer,
remember Allah, seek His forgiveness, and make sincere repentance.
Allah says:
Arabic:
وَأَقِمِ
الصَّلَاةَ لِذِكْرِي
Transliteration:
Wa
aqimis-salata li-dhikri.
English
translation:
“And establish
prayer for My remembrance.”
— Qur'an 20:14
This verse reminds
Muslims of the importance of prayer and remembering Allah. A person can
continue to perform established voluntary prayers and engage in general Tasbih
and Istighfar while learning about the scholarly discussion surrounding Salat
al-Tasbih.
Conclusion
Salat al-Tasbih is
a four-rak'ah voluntary prayer described in narrations attributed to the
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. According to the
method commonly taught, the Tasbih formula is recited 75 times in each rak'ah,
making 300 repetitions in total.
Scholars differ
over the authenticity of its hadith: some accept it and recommend the prayer,
while others consider the narrations weak and do not regard it as an
established Sunnah.
Those who follow
scholars who accept the narration may perform it as a voluntary act of worship.
Those who follow scholars who reject its authenticity should be respected as
well.
May Allah grant us
sincerity in worship, beneficial knowledge, forgiveness, and the ability to
follow the truth with wisdom and good manners.
Wallāhu
Taʿālā Aʿlam — And Allah knows best.
Zauren
Fatawoyi Bisa Alƙur’ani da Sunnah.
ﺳُﺒﺤَﺎﻧَﻚَ ﺍﻟﻠَّﻬُﻢَّ ﻭَﺑِﺤَﻤْﺪِﻙَ ﺃﺷْﻬَﺪُ ﺃﻥ ﻟَﺎ ﺇِﻟَﻪَ ﺇِﻻَّ ﺃﻧْﺖَ ﺃﺳْﺘَﻐْﻔِﺮُﻙَ ﻭﺃَﺗُﻮﺏُ ﺇِﻟَﻴْﻚ
WALLAHU A'ALAM.
https://t.me/TambayaDaAnsa
𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓𝐒𝐀𝐏𝐏👇
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaA8YpB42DcZdoRuCj3G
𝐅𝐀𝐂𝐄𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊👇
Https://www.facebook.com/groups/336629807654177
**************************
Wannan ɗaya ne daga cikin fatahowin Musulunci da aka gina su kan Ƙur’ani da Hadisan Manzon Allah (SAW) waɗanda ake samu a shafukan Tambayoyi da Amsoshi na Sheik Malam Khamis Yusuf a Facebook, Telegram, da WhatsApp. Za ku iya bibiyar shafukansa domin karanta ƙarin fatawowi.
0 Comments