A Brief Description of How to Perform Ṣalāt al-Tasbīḥ

Ṣalāt al-Tasbīḥ is an important and meritorious act of worship. Allāh’s Messenger ﷺ emphasized it and enjoined it. Throughout the centuries, many ʿulamāʾ, jurists, muḥaddithīn, and ṣūfīs have been punctual in its performance.

Imām al-Ḥākim (raḥimahu Allāh), who is an authority in ḥadīth, wrote:

“This ḥadīth’s authenticity is supported by the fact that since the generation after the Ṣaḥābah (raḍiya Allāhu ʿanhum) until our times, all the great teachers in Islām’s various sciences have been regular in offering it, and have advised that people do so as well. Among them was Imām ʿAbd Allāh b. Mubārak (raḥimahu Allāh).”[1]

In the following, we will explain the method for how the prayer is performed. The additional dhikr in this prayer is the tasbīḥ that one recites. It is:

سبحان الله والحمد لله ولا إله إلا الله والله أكبر

“Subḥān Allāh wa al-ḥamdu li Allāhi wa lā ilāha illā Allāhu wa Allāhu akbar.”

After making the intention of four rakʿahs (units of prayer), one must adhere to the following steps while offering Ṣalāt al-Tasbīḥ:

Step #1

In the first unit, after takbīr al-taḥrīmah,[2] one folds his hands together and then recites the thānāʾ.[3] One then recites the aforementioned tasbīḥ fifteen times.

Step #2

After the first set of tasbīḥ, one performs the regular taʿawwudh[4] and tasmiyah.[5] Thereafter, he recites Sūrat al-Fātiḥah along with another sūrah, and then he recites the tasbīḥ ten times. Once finished, he transitions into rukūʿ.

Step #3

In rukūʿ, after reciting the regular tasbīḥ for rukūʿ, [6] one recites the tasbīḥ ten times. Once finished, he rises from rukūʿ.

Step #4

After haven risen from rukūʿ, one recites the tasmīʿ [7] like how one does after rukūʿ during regular prayer. Thereafter, one recites the tasbīḥ ten times. Once finished, one proceeds into sujūd.

Step #5

Once in sajdah, and having had recited the regular tasbīḥ[8], one recites the tasbīḥ ten times. Then, he proceeds into the posture of jalsah.

Step #6

In the position of jalsah, one recites the tasbīḥ ten times. Then, he proceeds into the second sajdah.

Step #7

In the second sajdah, one repeats the same steps of the first and recites the tasbīḥ ten times.

Step #8

After sujūd, one stands for the second unit of prayer. And this time, without reciting thanāʾ, he recites the tasbīḥ fifteen times. Thereafter, he repeats the steps, as mentioned above, and observes the same number of tasbīḥs.

These steps must be followed for the rest of the prayer until one concludes it with salām. He should have a total of seventy-five tasbīḥs per unit of prayer. There should be a total of three hundred tasbīhs at the end of the prayer.

[1] Mustadrak al-Ḥākim,1:464.

[2] To say “الله أكبر” when initiating the prayer.

[3] To recite “سبحانك اللهم وبحمدك وتبارك اسمك وتعالى جدك ولا إله غيرك”.

[4] To recite “أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم”.

[5] To recite “بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم”.

[6] سبحان ربي الله العظيم

[7] ربنا لك الحمد

[8] سبحان ربي الأعلى