Written by Mohammad Najeeb
Qasmi and translated into Eng. By Nehal Anwer Qasmi
Salatut-Tasbeeh is a significant prayer in Islam. It wipes out all the sins of a
Muslim. Since this Salaah consists of Tasbeeh, therefore, it is called
Salatut-Tasbeeh. The particular Tasbeeh, for this Salaah as recommended by the
Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) in the following Hadith, is Sub-haanallahi Wal
Hamdu Lillaahi Wa Laa Ilaaha Illal Laahu Wallaahu Akbar (سبحان الله والحمد لله
ولا إله إلا الله والله أكبر). We recite it 75 times in each Rak'ah i.e. 300
times in four Rak'ah.
Abdullah bin Abbas (RA) narrates that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said to
his uncle (Abbas رضي الله عنه): O uncle shall I not give you, Shall I not grant
you, Shall I not award you, Shall I not do a mercy on you, Shall I not tell you
10 things when you do them, Allah will forgive your sins: of the future and of
the past, new and old, those you have forgotten and those you did knowingly, big
and small, hidden and revealed. Then the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) explained
the way to offer Salatut-Tasbeeh. Make intention of offering four Rak'ah. In
each Rak’ah, recite Surah Fatiha and a Surah from the Qur'an. Once you are
finished with it, recite the Tasbeeh 15 times. Then perform Ruku and recite
Ruku's usual Tasbeeh, thereafter, recite the Tasbeeh 10 times. After finishing
from Ruku, repeat the same Tasbeeh 10 times in Qauma position. Go to first
Sajdah and after reciting Sajdah's Tasbeeh, recite the Tasbeeh 10 times. Now go
to Jalsah position and repeat it 10 times. Go to second Sajdah again and do as
you did in the first Sajdah; that is reciting the same Tasbeeh 10 times after
the Tasbeeh of Sajdah. Once you get up from the second Sajdah, sit for a while
and recite again the Tasbeeh 10 times. The total number of the Tasbeeh in one
Rak'ah is now 75. Do the same in the remaining three Rak'ah and the total number
of the Tasbeeh will reach 300.
After explaining the method of Salatut-Tasbeeh the Prophet (PBUH) asked his
uncle to pray this Salaah once a day. If not, then every Friday, and even if
this is not possible then once a month, and even if this is not possible then
once a year, and even if this is not possible then at least once in a lifetime.
(Abu Daud; V:1 Page: 190 & Tirmizi; V:1 Page: 109)
There is one another way to offer Salatut-Tasbeeh. That too has been narrated by
the same source. Recite the Tasbeeh 15 times after Sana and 10 times after
reading a Surah. The rest is same. In this case, you don't need to sit after
second Sajdah.
In the afore-mentioned Hadith, it has been asserted by the Prophet (صلى الله
عليه وسلم) that offering Salatut-Tasbeeh will wipe out all the sins, either they
are major or minor. Since we are humans, we are undoubtedly marred in sins.
Thus, we ought to offer Salatut-Tasbeeh time and again to purify ourselves from
the piles of sins. In fact, not only Salatut-Tasbeeh, even usual Salaah is very
effective in removing sins. Once a man kissed a female stranger. But at the same
time he realized his sin and came to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) asking for
the remedy of his sin. Allah hence revealed the following verse:
"And establish prayer at the two ends of the day and of the night. Indeed good
deeds annul misdeeds. That is a remembrance for the mindful". (Surah Hood: 114)
The man asked the Prophet if this verse has been revealed particularly for me.
The Prophet replied no. It is for every person of my community. (Bukhari &
Muslim)
There is another Hadith that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, “The five
daily prayers and Friday prayer to the next Friday prayer, and the fasting of
Ramadan to the next Ramadan, is expiation of the sins committed in between them,
so long as major sins are avoided." (Muslim)
The above-mentioned two Ahadith make it clear that the Salaah play significant
role in removing sins of a Muslim. Moreover, there are several
Ahadith, which emphasize that the remembrance and consciousness of Allah too
help seek His forgiveness. The Salatut-Tasbeeh mostly consists of Tasbeeh and
remembrance of Allah. Thus, it is quite logical that the Salatut-Tasbeeh will
wipe out all the previous sins.
As for the time of Salatut-Tasbeeh, the scholars of Islam do not prescribe
specific time for it. It can be offered in any part of the day and night except
for the time forbidden. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) himself said to his
uncle after explaining Salatut-Tasbeeh: "Pray it once a day. If you cannot, then
once on every Friday. If that too is not possible, then once in a month or once
in a year or at least once in the lifetime".
Some people who think Islam as their monopoly object that the Hadith which
speaks of Salatut-Tasbeeh is Za'eef (weak). Thus, it has no root in Islam and
offering it is sheer bid'at (innovation). However, the fact is that, this Hadith
has been recorded by many reliable books of Ahadith. A large number of Hadith
scholars of old and modern time including Al Shaikh Nasir Al Din Al-Bani,
Muhammad bin Ishaq, Khatib Baghdadi, Abu Bakr Muhammad bin Mansoor Al-Sam'aani,
Imam Muslim, Imam Nawawi, Ibnul Hajar Asqalani, Abdullah bin Mubarak, Shaikh
Ahmad Shakir etc all of them acknowledged this Hadith as authentic. Therefore,
Salatut-Tasbeeh being innovation is out of question.
Some may also argue that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) personally taught this
Salaah to his uncle. So this was not meant to all Muslims. I would say even
though the Prophet taught Salatut-Tasbeeh to his uncle, but there is no evidence
that it was meant only for his uncle Abbas (RA). Rather there are abundant
examples where the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) gave certain commandments on
certain incidents. But, those commandments applied for all Muslims. Once the
Prophet told a woman that offering Umrah in the moth of Ramdhan is equal in the
reward of performing Hajj with me. Apparently, this Hadith is for that woman.
But, all the scholars agree that virtue mentioned in this Hadith apply for all
the Muslims without any exception.
In short, the Salatut-Tasbeeh is Nafl. It ought to be offered by the Muslims
according to their capacity, as it helps to wipe out all the major and minor
sins. Calling it bid'at is likely to lead to denial of an authentic Hadith.
May Allah give us taufeeq to offer Salatut-Tasbeeh as much as possible, Ameen!