What is the ruling on performing the Prayer of Tasbeeh (Salat al-Tasbeeh)?
Chapter on the Times When Prayer is Prohibited
Al-Mughni
Book of Prayer
Primary text
Imam Ahmad does not approve of the Prayer of Tasbeeh because nothing soundly established supports it, leading him to express disapproval. This prayer involves reciting specific phrases (SubhanAllah, Walhamdulillah, La ilaha illallah, Wallahu Akbar) 75 times in each of the four rak'ahs, following the recitation of Surah after Al-Fatiha. The hadith narrated by Ibn Abbas, recorded by Abu Dawud and Al-Tirmidhi, details this method as a means for the forgiveness of all sins, and instructs its performance daily, or failing that, weekly, monthly, yearly, or at least once in a lifetime. Although Imam Ahmad did not consider the hadith sound and did not see the practice as recommended (mustahabb), performing it is permissible because the validity of hadith is not strictly required for supererogatory acts (nawafil) and virtuous deeds (fada'il).