An Exceptional Prayer…Salaatut Tasbeeh

[ummtaalib]

An Exceptional Prayer…Salaatut Tasbeeh

 

In life there are occasions and opportunities where a person has a chance to increase in profits and rewards significantly. One such opportunity is the Blessed Month of Ramadaan, wherein rewards are multiplied enormously. This is a time where we can exert ourselves in prayers to gain nearness to Allah Ta’ala.

An exceptional prayer that can be performed in Ramadaan as well as throughout the year is Salaatut Tasbeeh, a special prayer taught to the Muslim Ummah by The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him).

Salatut Tasbeeh is a special Salaah that carries great rewards and blessings.  Hazrat Abdullah ibn Abbas (R.A) reports that Nabi (S.A.W) said to him: “O Abbas! O my uncle! Should I present to you a gift? Should I bestow something to you? Should I inform you of something greatly beneficial? Should I show you such an act which, if you render it, Allah will forgive all your sins – old and new, those committed in error and those committed deliberately, sins committed publicly or privately? The act is to perform four Rakaats (Salatut Tasbeeh) ... (after the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W) taught him the way of performing this Salaah, he said): If possible, perform this Salaah daily; if you are unable, then perform it once a week. If you are unable, then perform it once a month; if you are unable, then perform it once a year and if you are unable to do even this, then perform it at least once in a lifetime.” (Hadith-Abu Dawood)

WHEN TO PRAY:

 

This Salaah (namaz) is offered in four rakat at any convenient time and can be read in any part of the day and night keeping in mind the forbidden times for performing Salaah (i.e. Zawal , Sunrise and Sunset times). It is an excellent practice during the Mubarak(blessed) nights of Ramadhaan or on any other auspicious night.

 

The Tasbeeh(words of praise)  to be recited in Salatut Tasbeeh:

 

 “Subhan allahi wal hamdulillahi wa la ilaha illal laahu wallahu akbar”  

 The words “La Hawla wala Quwwata illa billahil Aliyyil Azeem” may also be added at the end of the above Tasbeeh.

 

METHOD:

 

 

FIRST RAKA’AH

·         After Thana - 15 Times

·         After the Surah and before Ruku - 10 Times

·         In Ruku after the Tasbeeh - 10 Times

·         In Qaumah (standing position after Ruku) - 10 Times

·         In (first) Sajda after the Tasbeeh - 10 Times

·         In Jalsa (sitting position between the two Sajdas) - 10 Times

·         In (second) Sajda after the Tasbeeh - 10 Times

·         The second, third and fourth Rakaats will be read in the same manner.

 

Note:

1. In every Rakat, the Tasbeeh will be recited 75 times totalling 300 times in the entire Salah.

2. There are also other methods of praying Salatut Tasbeeh which is correct and acceptable.

POINTS TO REMEMBER:

 

1) Do not count loudly.

2) Do not count by holding a Bead Tasbeeh(prayer beads) or a counter in your hand.

3) You may count by pressing the fingers as a reminder. For example if you are in Ruku. You may press small finger of your right hand first for the first count, then the finger next to it for second count, then the middle finger for third count, following this method until you reach the small finger of left hand will give you an exact count of ten. Use the same method in Qiyaam, Sajdah and Jalsa.

 

May Allah Ta’ala accept our ibadah(worship) and grant us an elevated position in Jannah(paradise).

EISLAM 

[ummtaalib]

THE VIRTUES OF SALATUT TASBEEH

 

Salatut Tasbeeh is a very important and meritorious form of salah. This is evident from several ahadith, wherein Rasulullah ( emphasised on it and enjoined it as a matter of great kindness and favour. As such, the Úlama, Jurists, Muhadditheen, and Sufis throughout the centuries have been particular in offering this Salah.

 

Sayyiduna Abbas ( has narrated that he was once informed by Rasulullah (, ”O Abbas! Should I not present to you? Should I not confer to you? Should I not inform you of such an act, which if you practise (these wordings of similar meaning were repeated in order to capture the attention of the listener and to emphasise the importance of the salah so as to instil a yearning to perform it), Allah ( will forgive all your sins, whether old or new, intentional or unintentional, minor or major, open or secret.” (After describing the method of performing this salah) Nabi ( stated, ”If possible, you should offer this salah once everyday, and if you cannot perform it daily, then offer it on every Friday (weekly), or once a month, or once a year or at least once in your lifetime.” [sunan Abu Dawud #1297]

 

 

THE STATUS AND IMPORTANCE OF SALATUT TASBEEH

 

Imam Al-Haakim رحمه الله who is an authority on hadith, has written, ”The authenticity of this hadith (of salatut tasbeeh) is supported by the fact that, since the second generation after the Sahabah ( until our times, all the great teachers in the various sciences of Deen have been offering this salah with constancy and have been advising the people to do so. Among them was Imam Abdullah Ibn Mubaarak رحمه الله (he was the teacher of the teachers of Imam Bukhari

 

رحمه الله).”1 ; Imam Al-Baihaqi رحمه الله has stated that, even before Ibn Mubaarak رحمه الله , Imam Abul Jauzaaرحمه الله , a Tabi’ee (one who had seen the Sahabah () and whose narrations are considered to be reliable, used to be very particular in offering this salah daily. As soon as he heard the azaan for the Zuhr Salah, he would go to the musjid and would complete this Salah before the Zuhr Salah.

 

2 Imam Abdul Aziz Ibn Abi Rawwaad رحمه الله who was the teacher of Ibn Mubaarak رحمه الله and who was a great devotee and saint, has stated, ”One who desires to attain Jannah should be constant in offering Salatut Tasbeeh.”

 

3 Allamah Taqi Ud-Deen As-Subki رحمه الله has stated, ” This salah is very important and one should not get misled if some people happen to deny its importance. The one, who ignores it even after learning about its immense reward, is negligent in religious matters, fails to act like virtuous people, and should not be considered as a reliable person.”

 

4 Sayyiduna Abdullah Ibn Abbas ( used to offer this Salah every Friday.

 

5 It is mustahab (commendable) to perform this salah on all those auspicious nights wherein extra ibadat (worship) are encouraged e.g. The 15th Night of Shabaan, The nights of Ramadan etc.[REFERENCES: 1) Al Mustadrak Haakim #1196; 2)Fadhaail A’amaal, Virtues of Zikr p.244; 3)At Tarsheeh, Libayaani Salatit Tasbeeh p.33; 4)Sharhul Ihya v.3 p.794; 5)Mirqatul Mafateeh #1329] NOTE: The Authenticity of Salatut Tasbeeh has been affirmed by the muhadditheen. Many of them have written detailed articles on this matter. Allaamah Suyuti رحمه الله has enumerated up to 20 great muhadditheen who have accepted its authenticity. [Al-Laalil Masnoo’ah v.2, p.40]

 

According to the principles of hadeeth, this hadith falls at least in the category of Hasan Ahadith. (see here for more on the authenticity of Salatut Tasbih)

Prepared by: Moulana Zeyad Danka (Dar Al-Mazeed publications)

[ummtaalib]

SOME IMPORTANT POINTS TO KEEP IN MIND

 

1. Counting should not be done verbally as this act nullifies the salah. The best way is that the fingers should be kept in their position, but should be pressed one by one for counting. [Raddul Muhtaar v.2, p.27

 

2. This Salah can be offered at any time of the day or night besides the three forbidden times. However, the more appropriate times, in order of preference, are: After midday (zawal), any time during the day, and any time during the night. [Fadhaail A’amaal, Virtues of Zikr P.245]

 

3. According to some ahadith, the third Kalimah should also be followed by الْعَظِيْمْ ِلاَ حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ اِلاََّ بِاللهِ الْعَلِيِّ therefore better to recite it sometimes in addition to the third Kalimah.” [ihyaa – vol.2, pg.267]

 

4. In the ruku, سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيْمْ and in the sajdah, سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الاَعْليَ should be recited before reciting the third kalimah.” [At Tarsheeh, Libayaani Salatit Tasbeeh p.22]

 

5. If one missed out all or some tasbeehs in any posture, there will be no need to make sajda sahw (at the end of the salah) to compensate for this omission. However, the omitted amount should be made up for in the next posture unless the subsequent posture is that of qaumah (the standing position after ruku) or jalsah (the sitting position between the two sajdas). In these postures, one should recite the kalimas as specified and then cover up for the deficiency in the next act. For instance, if one omits the recitation of the tasbbeehs in the ruku, one should make up the deficiency in the first sajda. [Raddul Muhtar v.2 p.28]

 

6. Whilst performing this salah, it is also advisable to tie (fold) the hands when standing in Qaumah (the posture between the ruku and sajdah) when reciting the tasbeehs. [Ahsanul Fatawa v. 3, p.491]

 

PRACTICE AND CONVEY THIS GIFT GRANTED TO US BY RASULULLAH (SALLALLAHU ÁLAIHI WASALLAM).

Prepared by: Moulana Zeyad Danka (Dar Al-Mazeed publications)