⭑ Is Salat al-Tasbih Proven from the Prophet ﷺ? A Detailed Shar‘i Analysis ⭑
Taken from: Fatawa Arkan-e-Islam
Salat al-Tasbih is a specific voluntary (nafl) prayer in which a certain number of tasbihat are recited in every rak‘ah. Some narrations describe its method and virtue, but there is significant disagreement among hadith scholars and jurists regarding its authenticity and legislation.
① If this prayer had been authentically established from the Prophet ﷺ, it would have reached the Ummah through a continuous and clear chain, leaving no doubt.
② Salat al-Tasbih is unlike other regular prayers and does not fall under the general categories of worship, because:
③ Acts of worship that are exceptional in their format must be widely known among the Companions and the Ummah — yet Salat al-Tasbih holds no such widespread fame.
④ This lack of prominence among the early generations indicates the absence of any clear, authoritative ruling from the Prophet ﷺ.
⑤ This is why none of the major imams explicitly declared it mustahabb.
However, the statement “no imam declared it mustahabb” is not entirely accurate.
والله أعلم بالصواب
Taken from: Fatawa Arkan-e-Islam
⮚ What is Salat al-Tasbih?
Salat al-Tasbih is a specific voluntary (nafl) prayer in which a certain number of tasbihat are recited in every rak‘ah. Some narrations describe its method and virtue, but there is significant disagreement among hadith scholars and jurists regarding its authenticity and legislation.
⮚ Scholarly Positions
- According to the research of well-known hadith scholars and jurists:
- Salat al-Tasbih is not authentically established from the Prophet ﷺ.
- Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal رحمه الله:
“This hadith is not authentic.”
- Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله:
- Considered the narration to be fabricated (mawdu‘).
- Imam Ahmad رحمه الله
- Declared it makruh, viewing it as an act outside the general principles of worship.
- Among the four imams, none declared this prayer mustahabb (recommended):
- Imam Abu Hanifah رحمه الله – no statement transmitted regarding its recommendation.
- Imam Malik رحمه الله – no statement transmitted regarding its recommendation.
- Imam Shafi‘i رحمه الله – no statement transmitted regarding its recommendation.
- The position of Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله is generally regarded by scholars as correct and well-founded.
❀ Supporting Points
① If this prayer had been authentically established from the Prophet ﷺ, it would have reached the Ummah through a continuous and clear chain, leaving no doubt.
② Salat al-Tasbih is unlike other regular prayers and does not fall under the general categories of worship, because:
- Shari‘ah has not legislated any act of worship that may be performed sometimes daily, sometimes weekly, sometimes monthly, sometimes yearly, or once in a lifetime, all as equally valid options.
③ Acts of worship that are exceptional in their format must be widely known among the Companions and the Ummah — yet Salat al-Tasbih holds no such widespread fame.
④ This lack of prominence among the early generations indicates the absence of any clear, authoritative ruling from the Prophet ﷺ.
⑤ This is why none of the major imams explicitly declared it mustahabb.
⮚ Clarification
However, the statement “no imam declared it mustahabb” is not entirely accurate.
- A group of hadith scholars accepted the hadith of Salat al-Tasbih due to the multiplicity of its chains (kathrat al-turuq) and thus considered it authentic in origin.
- Based on this, they held the opinion that it is recommended (mustahabb).
والله أعلم بالصواب
