How is tasbih prayer performed?

Dear Brother / Sister,

Tasbih Prayer: It is a prayer of four rak’ahs. It is narrated that the Prophet advised his uncle Abbas to perform it.

The sentence "Subhanallahi wal-hamdu lillahi wa la ilaha illallahu wallahu akbar (Glory is to Allah, praise is to Allah, none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and Allah is the Most Great)" is said 75 times in each rak'ah.

The places where this statement is said and how many times it is said is as follows:

* 15 times in the first rak'ah, before Subhanaka and 15 times after al-Fatiha in the second rak'ah,

* 10 times after al-Fatiha and another chapter is read,

* 10 times after "Subhana rabbiyal-azim" is said 3 times in ruku’ and 10 times after standing up from ruku’,

* 10 times after Subhana rabbiyal-a’la is said 3 times in prostration,

* 10 times after getting up from prostration and sitting,

* 10 times after Subhana rabbiyal-a’la is said 3 times in the second prostration. Thus, the statement Subhanallahi... is said 75 times in each rak'ah. It is possible to salute at the end of the second rak'ah; and the third and fourth rak'ahs can be performed as two rak'ahs separately; or, it is possible to stand up for the third rak'ah without saluting. The third and fourth rak'ahs are performed just like the first and second rak'ahs. Thus, 300 tasbih supplications are said in total in 4 rak'ahs. This prayer is advised to be performed at least once in a person’s life.   

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TASBIH PRAYER

Tasbih prayer is a nafilah prayer that is performed by uttering tasbih (glorification). Tasbih prayer is one of the prayers that are mandub (having a lot of thawabs). Tasbih, which is an Arabic word, means saying that Allah is free from incomplete attributes and glorifying Him. This prayer is called tasbih prayer because "Subhanallahi walhamdu lillahi wa la ilaha illallahu wallahu akbar" is said three hundred times.

There is not a certain time for tasbih prayer. It can be performed any time except karahah times. It can be performed as four rak’ahs as a whole prayer or in two plus two rak'ahs by saluting after the second rak'ah. (Wahba az-Zuhayli, al-Fiqhul-Islami wa Adillatuhu, Damascus, 1984, II, 49)

There is no verse mentioning tasbih prayer in the Quran. However, hadiths were narrated about this prayer. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) advised Hz. Abbas, his uncle, to perform tasbih prayer:

"O Abbas! My uncle! Shall I give you something? Shall I donate to you? Shall I benefit you? Shall I remind you of ten good things? When you fulfill those ten things, Allah will forgive your sins in the past and future, old and new, involuntary and voluntary, secret and open, small and big.

These are the ten things: Pray four rak'ahs, reciting in each one the chapter of al-Fatiha and another chapter. When you have finished reciting in the first rak'ah, say “Subhanallahi walhamdu lillahi wa la ilaha illallahu wallahu akbar (Glory is to Allah, praise is to Allah, none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and Allah is the Most Great) fifteen times before you bow in ruku’. Then bow down and say the same words ten times. Then, raise your head and say the same words ten times. Then, prostrate and say them ten times; then, say them ten times when you sit between two prostrations. Then, say them ten times when you prostrate for the second time. Then, raise your head and say them ten times before you stand up. Thus, you will complete seventy-five times in each rak’ah.

If you can perform it once daily, do so; if not, then once every Friday; if not, then once a year; if not, then perform it at least once in your lifetime." (Tirmidhi, Witr, 19; Ibn Majah, Iqamah, 190; Abu Dawud, Tatawwu, 14; at-Targhib wat-Tarhib, I, 467, 469)

There are two views about the place of the tasbihat said in tasbih prayer: According to Hanafi madhhab, one makes intention to perform tasbih prayer for Allah or to perform a nafilah prayer and starts prayer by saying "Allahu Akbar". "Subhanallahi walhamdu lillahi..." is said fifteen times after Subhanaka. After that, audhubillahiminash-shaytanir-rajim, bismillahir-rahmanir-rahim is said. Then, the chapter of al-Fatiha and another chapter is read. Then, "Subhanallahi..." is said ten times. After that, ruku’ is made. First, "Subhana rabbiyal-azim" is said three times and "Subhanallahi..." ten times."Samiallahu liman hamidah, Rabbana lakal-hamd" is said after standing up from ruku’ and "Subhanallahi..." is said ten times. After that, prostration is made.  "Subhana rabbiyal-a'la" is said three times in prostration followed by "Subhanallahi..." ten times. Takbir is uttered while getting up from prostration and "Subhanallahi..." is said ten times in the sitting between two prostrations. Another prostration is made with takbir and "Subhanallahi..." is said ten times after "Subhana rabbiyal-a'la" is said three times. Thus, the number of tasbihat reaches seventy-five.   

After that, the second rak'ah starts. First, "Subhanallahi..." is said fifteen times. Then, the same things are done and said as in the first rak'ah. It is necessary to sit and read at-Tahiyyatu and salli-barik supplications after sitting. Thus, the number of tasbihat reaches one hundred and fifty. After that, one can salute or stand up for the third rak'ah. The third and fourth rak'ahs are performed just like the first and second rak'ahs. Thus, tasbih supplication is said three hundred times in four rak'ahs.

This description of performing tasbih prayer is based on the narration in Tirmidhi’s al-Jami’ and of Abdullah b. Mubarak, who is one of the students of Abu Hanifa. The second way of performing it is like the description in the hadith above.

According to another narration, the tasbih supplication is lengthened as follows: "Subhanallahi wal hamdu lillahi wa la ilaha illallahu wallahu akbar wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billahil aliyyil azim. (Glory is to Allah, praise is to Allah, none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and Allah is the Most Great and there is no power and strength except with Allah, who is the highest, the most magnificent)"

If a person makes a mistake while performing tasbih prayer, he does not have to say the extra tasbih supplication in sajdah as-sahw. If the person who performs tasbih prayer can remember the number, he does not have to count with his fingers. When tasbih prayer is performed in congregation, the imam reads the Quran and tasbih supplication aloud. (Ibn Abidin, Raddul-Muhtar, Egypt 1966, II, 27)

When a chapter is read in tasbih prayer, it is possible to read any chapter as it is the case in any prayer. It is not possible to say, "You cannot read this or that chapter or you have to read this or that chapter." However, when Ibn Abbas was asked, "Do you know a chapter determined for this prayer?", he said, "Yes, at-Takathur, al-Asr, al-Kafirun and al-Ikhlas." (Fatawa al-Hindiyya, Egypt 1323, I, 119)

(Nureddin TURGAY)

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