218. Salaat at-Tasbeeh

By Asma bint Shameem 

There’s a difference of opinion among the ulama about Salaat at-Tasbeeh. 

There’s mainly one hadeeth of Ibn Abbaas radhi Allaahu anhu that’s related to the subject but the ulama differed about the authenticity of this hadeeth. 

Some considered it acceptable while others considered the hadeeth as “weak” and even “fabricated” and thus the difference of opinion. 

Here are some of the statements about Salaat at-Tasbeeh according to Ulama such as Ibn Taymiyah, ibn al-Qayyim, al-Nawawi, ibn Qudamah, Shaikh ibn Fawzaan, Ibn Uthaaymeen, etc.

Ibn Taymiyah said:  

“The best of the reports narrated about these prayers is the narration about Salat al-Tasbeeh, which was narrated by Abu Dawud and al-Tirmidhi, but *nevertheless none of the four imams spoke of it;*

*in fact, Ahmad regarded the narration as da‘eef (weak), and these prayers are not mustahabb (recommended).”*

[Majmoo‘ al-Fatawa (11/579)]

Imam ibn Qudamah said: 

“With regard to Salat al-Tasbeeh, Ahmad said: I do not like it. 

It was said to him: Why? 

He said: There is nothing Saheeh about it, and he waved his hand as if dismissing it.”

[Al-Mughni (1/438)]

Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen said: 

"Salaat al-Tasbeeh is not prescribed, because the hadeeth is da'eef (weak).

Imaam Ahmad said there is no sound evidence for it.

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said it is a fabrication, and he said that none of the Imaams recommended it."

Shaykh Abdul Aziz bin Marzouq At-Tarefe said:

“Salah At-Tasbeeh is not authentically established, the narration was rejected by Imams like Imam Ahmad, Imam Abu Haatim and Shaykhul Islam ibn Taymiyyah. 

There many defects in the text. 

This prayer was never performed by the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam nor is it reported that any of his companions or the Tabi'een (in general) performed it.

It was mentioned by some Imams like that which is reported about ibn Mubarak that he done it.“

But other ulama considered the hadeeth authentic and said it’s allowed to read Salaat at-Tasbeeh. 

And Allaah knows best about that. 

So at best, it may be considered ‘doubtful’. 

In other words, it’s not sure whether the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam ever SAID these words to Ibn Abbaas radhi Allaahu anhu or not. 

And if it is something that is doubtful and may not even be from the Sunnah, then why do it?

And even if some of the Ulama did regard it as something that can be done, realize that others considered it as something doubtful and even fabricated!

The question that really one needs to ask is:

Did the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam ever read this Prayer?

The answer is NO. NEVER. 

NO EVIDENCE of that. 

And did the Sahaabah besides ibn Abbaas read this prayer ?

Again the answer is NO. NEVER. 

NO EVIDENCE of that. 

The ONLY evidence is according to this hadeeth of ibn Abbaas, which is considered WEAK by some scholars and FABRICATED by others. 

The Standing Committee was asked about Salaat al-Tasaabeeh, and they answered:  

“Salaat al-Tasaabeeh is a bid'ah (innovation) and the hadeeth concerning it is not proven, rather it is munkar. Some of the scholars mentioned it among the fabricated ahaadeeth.”

(Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daaýimah, vol. 8, p. 163)

Shaykh Ibn ýUthaymeen said: 

“Salaat al-Tasaabeeh is not prescribed, because the hadeeth is da’eef (weak). 

Imaam Ahmad said there is no sound evidence for it. 

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said it is a fabrication, and he said that none of the imaams recommended it. 

He spoke the truth, because whoever examines this prayer will find that it is odd in the way it is performed.

Moreover, if it were prescribed, it would have been something that was reported in many reports because of its great virtue and reward. 

Since there are no such reports and none of the imaams described it as being recommended, we know that it is not proven. 

The oddness in the way in which it is performed is as described in the hadeeth narrated concerning it, which says that it is to be performed once every day, or once every week, or once every month, or once every year, or once in a lifetime. 

This indicates that these reports are not sound; if it were prescribed, it would be something to be done on a regular basis, and one would not be given such a variety of options. 

On this basis, people should not do this prayer. And Allaah knows best.”

(Fataawa Manaar al-Islam, 1/203)

Now, for something that is doubtful, wouldn't you want to leave it and worship Allaah in a way that is for sure prescribed in the Sharee'ah?

Isn’t the reason WHY we want to read Salaat at-Tasbeeh anyway?

So that we want to earn rewards, come closer to Allaah and please Him? Correct?

Then why spend our time doing something ‘doubtful’ when we could be worshiping Allaah through those means that are definitely prescribed in the Sharee’ah and not dubious.

Why would we want to risk our ibaadah ?

Didn't the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam say? 

 "Leave that which makes you doubt for that which does not make you doubt." (al-Tirmidhi--Saheeh by al-Albaani)

We can use  the time we would have spent reading Salaat at-Tasbeeh, more efficiently by reading Qur’aan, memorizing it, gaining authentic knowledge or spreading it, giving charity, helping others, reading general nawaafil, engaging in dua, dhikr, etc... anything that is confirmed from teachings of the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam. 

There are so many prescribed ways to come closer to Allaah and earn rewards Alhamdulillaah. 

Why do we need to resort to any ibaadah that’s ‘doubtful’?

I myself “used” to read this Salaat Tasbeeh when I was younger, every single Friday no matter what!

Come rain or shine, I would read it since I was 15. 

I even read it when I was in medical school and had my exams the next day!

Subhaan Allaah. 

But when I found out that the hadeeth is doubtful and there is no evidence that the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam himself read it or even the Sahaabah ever read it, I stopped. 

Alhamdulillaah. 

I know that it's hard to break built-in, hardened habits.  

But if our goal is to follow Islaam the way it was revealed to the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam, then we should push hard to overcome those ingrained habits and thus aim to attain  the pleasure of Allaah rather than 'pleasing ourselves'. 

May Allaah guide us always and forgive our mistakes past, present and future ones. And enable us to practice this Deen in a manner that's pleasing to Him. Ameen.