Question:
Please provide a ruling pertaining to Salaat-ut-Tasbeeh.
Salaat ut-Tasbeeh by: Asma binte Shameem
There’s a difference of opinion among the Ulama about the validity of Salaat-ut-Tasbeeh.
There’s mainly the Hadith of Ibn Abbas Radiallahu Anhu that’s related to the subject, but the ulama have differed about the authenticity of this Hadith.
Some considered it acceptable, while others considered the Hadith as “weak” and even “fabricated,” thus the difference of opinion.
Many Ulama, such as Ibn Taymiyah, ibn al-Qayyim, al-Nawawi, ibn Qudaamah, Shaikh ibn Fawzaan, Ibn Uthaaymeen, etc., did not approve of it.
Ibn Taymiyah said:
“The best of the reports narrated about these prayers is the narration about Salaat ut-Tasbeeh, which was narrated by Abu Dawud and Al-Tirmidhi, but nevertheless, none of the four Imaams spoke of it
In fact, Ahmad regarded the narration as Da‘eef (weak), and these prayers are not Mustahab (recommended).”
[Majmoo‘ al-Fatawa (11/579)]
Ibn Qudaamah said:
“With regard to Salaat al-Tasbeeh, Imaam Ahmad said:
“I do not like it.” He was asked: Why? He said: “There is nothing Saheeh about it,” and he waved his hand as if dismissing it. ”
[Al-Mughni (1/438)]
The scholars of the Standing Committee said:
“Salaat ut-Tasbeeh is a Bid’ah (innovation), and the Hadith concerning it is not proven; rather, it is Munkar. Some of the scholars mentioned it among the fabricated Ahaadeeth.”
(Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daaimah, vol. 8, pg. 163)
But other ulama considered the Hadith authentic and said it’s allowed to read Salaat at-Tasbeeh.
Allah knows best
So at best, it may be considered ‘doubtful’. In other words, it’s not sure whether the Rasul of Allah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam ever said these words to Ibn Abbas Radiallahu 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 could be done, realize that others considered it doubtful and even fabricated!
The question that really needs to be asked is:
Did the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam ever read this prayer?
The answer is no. There is no evidence of that.
And did the Sahaabah, besides Ibn Abbas Radiallahu Anhu read this prayer?
Again, the answer is no. There is no evidence of that.
The only evidence is according to this Hadith of Ibn Abbas Radiallahu Anhu, which is considered weak by some scholars and flawed by others.
Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen said:
“Salaat-ut-Tasaabeeh is not prescribed because the Hadith 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 Imams described it as being recommended, we know that it is not proven.
The oddity in the way in which it is performed is as described in the Hadith 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 they 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 Allah knows best.”
(Fataawa Manaar al-Islam, 1/203)
🔺Still confused?
Then let me ask you this:
“Why” do we want to read Salaat-ut-Tasbeeh?
To gain rewards and please Allah, correct?
Then why would you want to spend your time doing something that is considered “doubtful” or even “fabricated” by the scholars .Wouldn’t you want to leave it and worship Allah in a way that is established and for sure prescribed in the Shariah? Then why spend our time doing something ‘doubtful’ when we could be worshipping Allah through those ibaadaat that are definitely prescribed in the Shari’ah and not dubious?
Why would we want to risk our Ibaadah?
Didn’t the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam 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-ut-Tasbeeh more efficiently by reading Quraan Sharif, memorizing it, gaining authentic knowledge or spreading it, giving charity, helping others, reading general Nawaafil, engaging in Dua, Dhikr, Istighfaar, etc.—anything that is confirmed from the teachings of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam.
There are so many known and established, prescribed ways to come closer to Allah and earn rewards, Alhamdulillah.
Why do we need to resort to any ibaadah that’s ‘doubtful’?
I performed Salaat-ut-Tasbeeh when I was younger, every single Friday, consistently.
No matter the consequences, I read it since I was 15 years old, although it takes approximately 45 minutes to read it.
I even read it when I was in medical school and had exams the next day!
But when I found out that the Hadith is doubtful and there is no evidence that the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam himself read it or even the Sahaabah ever read it, I stopped.
I know that it’s hard to break built-in, hardened habits.
But if our goal is to follow Islam the way it was revealed to the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, then we should push hard to overcome those ingrained habits and thus aim to attain the pleasure of Allah rather than ‘pleasing ourselves’.
May Allah guide us always and forgive our past, present, and future sins and enable us to practice this Deen in a manner that’s pleasing to Him. Ameen.
Answer:
The ruling regarding Salaat-at-Tasbeeh is that it is permissible and, in fact, very meritorious. The Hadith in question has been accepted as Hasan (sound) by majority of the scholars of Hadith, hence there is no problem practicing upon it. The article in question is therefore incorrect.
[ Re: Fataawa Darul Uloom Zakarriya Vol:2 Pg:393-395]
والحديث في صلاة التسبيح مختلف فيه وقيل انه حسن وهو المختار عند جمهور المحدثين (العرف الشذي ج١ص١٩٠)
وَحَدِيثُهَا حَسَنٌ لِكَثْرَةِ طُرُقِهِ. وَوَهَمَ مَنْ زَعَمَ وَضْعَهُ، وَفِيهَا ثَوَابٌ لَا يَتَنَاهَى وَمِنْ ثَمَّ قَالَ بَعْضُ الْمُحَقِّقِينَ: لَا يَسْمَعُ بِعَظِيمِ فَضْلِهَا وَيَتْرُكُهَا إلَّا مُتَهَاوِنٌ بِالدِّينِ، وَالطَّعْنُ فِي نَدْبِهَا بِأَنَّ فِيهَا تَغْيِيرًا لِنُظُمِ الصَّلَاةِ إنَّمَا يَأْتِي عَلَى ضَعْفِ حَدِيثِهَا فَإِذَا ارْتَقَى إلَى دَرَجَةِ الْحَسَنِ أَثْبَتَهَا وَإِنْ كَانَ فِيهَا ذَلِكَ (حاشية ابن عابدين ج٢ص٢٧)
تستحب صلاة التسبيح في كل وقت لا كراهة فيه، أو في كل يوم أو ليلة مرة. إلا ففي كل أسبوع أو شهر أو العمر مرة. لأن ثوابها لا يتناهى وقيل: لا يسمع بعظيم فضلها ويتركها إلا متهاون بالدين (فقه العبادات على المذهب الحنفي ج١ص
ALLAH TA’ALAH KNOWS BEST!!!
ANSWERED BY:
Maulana Ahmed Saeed
Date: 26 Shabaan 1445 / 08 March 2024
CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:-
Mufti Mohammed Desai Saheb
