Is Salat al Tasbeeh an Established Prayer in Islam?
Question
Salatul tasbeeh, is it a real thing?
Answer
Alhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain.
Salat al Tasbeeh is a voluntary prayer reported in narrations attributed to the Prophet ﷺ. The scholars examined these reports carefully and differed regarding their strength and legal effect. As a result, the juristic ruling differs among the madhahib. What follows is a precise presentation based on the relied upon positions.
1. The Shar‘i Principle
The hadith of Salat al Tasbeeh is reported from Abdullah ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, who said:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to al Abbas ibn Abd al Muttalib:
“O Abbas, O my uncle, shall I not give you, shall I not grant you, shall I not inform you of something by which Allah will forgive your sins, the first and the last, the old and the new, the accidental and the deliberate, the small and the great, the hidden and the apparent?
Pray four rakah. In each rakah recite al Fatihah and a surah. When you finish the recitation in the first rakah, say while standing: Subhan Allah, alhamdulillah, la ilaha illa Allah, and Allahu akbar fifteen times. Then bow and say it ten times. Then rise and say it ten times. Then prostrate and say it ten times. Then sit and say it ten times. Then prostrate again and say it ten times. Then sit again and say it ten times. That makes seventy five times in each rakah and three hundred times in four rakah.
If you can pray it once every day, then do so. If not, then once every week. If not, then once every month. If not, then once every year. If not, then once in your lifetime.”
This hadith is reported by Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, and others. The scholars of hadith differed regarding its grading. Some considered its chains weak, while others held that its multiple routes strengthen one another in the context of voluntary deeds.
2. Position of the Madhahib
The Hanafi school holds that Salat al Tasbeeh is recommended. Scholars such as al Kasani in Badai al Sanai and Ibn Abidin in Radd al Muhtar stated that voluntary prayers are expansive, and acting upon reports like this is permissible, especially when they consist entirely of established forms of dhikr and salah.
The Shafii school clearly recommends Salat al Tasbeeh. Imam al Nawawi states in al Majmu that it is a recommended voluntary prayer and that its hadith may be acted upon due to the number of its narrations and because it relates to virtuous deeds.
The Maliki school, although Imam Malik himself did not practice this prayer, later Maliki scholars clarified that it may be performed and is considered recommended within the general category of voluntary prayers. Since it contains no innovation in form and consists of prayer and remembrance, they did not forbid it.
The Hanbali school, however, rejected Salat al Tasbeeh. Hanbali scholars inclduding Sheikh Ibn Taymiyah generally ruled that it is not legislated. They did not recommend it and advised sticking to established voluntary prayers whose reports are sound.
3. Scholarly Balance
Because Salat al Tasbeeh is a voluntary prayer and not an obligation or emphasized sunnah, the scholars who recommended it did not consider it binding or regular. Likewise, those who rejected it did so out of concern for hadith authenticity, not out of opposition to dhikr or voluntary prayer itself.
This difference is a valid juristic disagreement, and neither side condemns the other.
4. Relevant Usul Principle
العمل بالحديث الضعيف في فضائل الأعمال
Acting upon a weak hadith in matters of virtuous deeds.
Many scholars allow acting upon weak hadith in voluntary acts when the report is not fabricated, does not establish a new obligation, and falls under general principles already established in Sharia. Those who recommend Salat al Tasbeeh apply this principle, while the Hanbali school does not apply it in this case.
Final Ruling
Salat al Tasbeeh is a reported voluntary prayer. It is recommended according to the Hanafi, Shafii, and Maliki schools, and rejected by the Hanbali school due to concerns over the authenticity of its hadith. Whoever prays it following those who recommend it is not blameworthy, and whoever leaves it following the Hanbali position has not neglected any obligation or confirmed sunnah.
And Allah knows best.