The adhkār of the ṣalāh of tasbīḥ

AT-TIRMIDHĪ ^[1].REPORTS IN his book [as-Sunan] that many hadiths have been narrated about the ṣalāh of tasbīḥ but that a large number are not authentic. Ibn al-Mubārak and other ‘ulamā’ have spoken of the merit of the ṣalāh of tasbīḥ.

“Then he should seek protection and recite ‘In the name of Allah’, al-Fātiḥah, and a chapter [of Qur’ān], and then he should say ten times: Glory be to Allah, all praise is due to Allah, there is no god but Allah and Allah is greater. Then he should perform rukū‘ and say the same words ten times. Then he should raise his head and say them ten times. Next he should make sujūd and say the same words ten times. Then he should raise his head and say it ten times. Then he should perform sujūd a second time and say it ten times. He should perform four rak‘ahs in this way. That makes seventy-five tasbīḥāt in every rak‘ah, starting with fifteen tasbīḥs, after which he should recite [Qur’ān] and then say ten tasbīḥs. If he performs it at night, I would like him to greet [the angels on his shoulders] after every two rak‘ahs. If he performs it during the day, he may say the salām if he wants to but he does not have to do so.”

According to another version, ‘Abdullāh ibn al-Mubārak said: “One should start in rukū‘ with Glory be to my Lord the Exalted and in sujūd with Glory be to my Lord Most High thrice, and then say the tasbīḥāt”. Ibn al-Mubārak was asked: “If one forgets in this ṣalāh, does he have to say ten tasbīḥs in the sujūd of forgetfulness?” He replied: “No. There are only three hundred tasbīḥāt.”

We relate in the books of at-Tirmidhī and Ibn Mājah from Abū Rāfi‘ who related that the Messenger of Allah said to al-‘Abbās: “Uncle, should I not be your companion? Should I not give to you? Should I not benefit you?” He replied: “Yes, Messenger of Allah.” He said: “Uncle, perform four rak‘ahs of ṣalāh and recite in every rak‘ah the Opening of the Book [al-Fātiḥah] and a chapter. When you have finished the recitation say: Allah is greater, all praise is due to Allah, and glory be to Allah fifteen times before you make rukū‘. Then make rukū‘ and say it ten times. Then raise your head and say it ten times. Then make sujūd and say it ten times. Then lift your head and say it ten times before you stand up. That will be seventy-five in every rak‘ah and three hundred in every four rak‘ahs. Even if your sins be [as many] as the sands of ‘Ālij, ^[2].Allah will forgive them for you.” [‘Abbās] asked: “Messenger of Allah, who will be able to do that every day?” [The Prophet ] answered: “If one is unable to do it daily then let him do it once a week, and if he is unable to do it once a week then let him do it once a month.” He continued thus until he said: “Do it once a year.” ^[3].At-Tirmidhī said that this hadith is described as gharīb.

I say that Imam Abū Bakr ibn al-‘Arabī in his book al-Ahwadhī sharḥ at-Tirmidhī says, “This hadith of Abū Rafi’ is weak and is neither ṣaḥīḥ nor ḥasan. At-Tirmidhī only mentioned it as a way of warning and [alerting] one to it so that one is not misled by it. The statement of Ibn al-Mubārak is not a proof [in this matter].” These are the words of Ibn al-‘Arabī. Al-‘Uqaylī said that there is no reliably established hadith on ṣalāt at-tasbīḥ. Abū al-Faraj Ibn al-Jawzī in his book al-Mawḍū’āt cites the hadiths and chains related to ṣalāt at-tasbīḥ and explains their weaknesses.

It has reached us that the Imam and Ḥāfiẓ Abū al-Ḥasan ad-Dāraquṭnī (Allah have mercy on him) said that the most completely authentic report in the virtues [or excel lences] of Qur’ānic chapters concerns the excellence of the sūra ‘Say, Allah is One’ and the most authentic thing regarding the merits of prayers concerns the ṣalāt at-tasbīḥ.

I have mentioned this statement musnadan, with reference to isnāds, in the book Ṭabaqāt al-fuqahā’ regarding the biography of al-Ḥasan ‘Alī ibn ‘Umar ad-Dāraquṭnī. This does not mean, however, that the hadiths for ṣalāt at-tasbīḥ are ṣaḥīḥ. Indeed, when they say that ‘this is the most authentic on the subject’ when it is [actually] weak, what they mean is ‘the most preferable’ or ‘the least weak’.

I say that a group of our colleagues such as Abū Muḥammad al-Baghawī and Abū al-Maḥāsin ar-Rūyānī have said that the ṣalāt at-tasbīḥ is mustaḥabb.

Ar-Rūḥānī said in his work al-Baḥr, near the end of the chapter on Funeral Prayer: “Know that ṣalāt at-tasbīḥ is desired and it is mustaḥabb to perform as much as one can at any given time and not to be negligent about it. He said that such was narrated by ‘Abdullāh ibn al-Mubārak as well as a group of scholars. They said: “‘Abdullāh ibn al-Mubārak was asked whether if someone forgets something in the ṣalāt at-tasbīḥ he should say ten tasbīḥs for each of the prostrations of forgetfulness. [Ibn al-Mubārak] replied: ‘No. [Ṣalāt at-tasbīḥ] is only 300 counts of tasbīḥ’.

I have mentioned this discussion regarding sujūd as-sahw even though the subtle benefits have been already mentioned. The point is that someone like [‘Abdullāh ibn al-Mubārak] relating this and not rejecting it points to the fact that he agreed with its ruling as well as many others. So does ar-Rūyānī, who is one of the eminent figures in our school. And Allah knows best.