Salatul Tasbih, how to pray it.
Salatul Tasbih is four rakahs with the tasbih said 75 times in each, 300 in all. Step through it position by position, with the count for each.
Intend four rakahs of Salatul Tasbih, a voluntary prayer, with one salam at the end. Say Allahu akbar, raising your hands so the thumbs are near the earlobes (women: to the shoulders), then fold them: men below the navel, women on the chest.
اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allāhu akbar
Allah is the Greatest.
Say the thana. Then, before Al-Fatiha, say the tasbih 15 times. Count in your mind or by pressing your fingers lightly, not aloud.
سُبْحَانَكَ اللّٰهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالٰى جَدُّكَ وَلَا إِلٰهَ غَيْرُكَ
Subḥānakallāhumma wa biḥamdika wa tabārakasmuka wa taʿālā jadduka wa lā ilāha ghayruk
Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise. Blessed is Your name, exalted is Your majesty, and there is no god but You.
Sunan Abi Dawud and Jami at-Tirmidhi, from Aishah and Abu Said al-Khudri.
سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَلَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Subḥānallāhi wal-ḥamdu lillāhi wa lā ilāha illallāhu wallāhu akbar
Glory be to Allah, all praise is for Allah, there is no god but Allah, and Allah is the Greatest.
Sunan Abi Dawud 1297; Sunan Ibn Majah 1387; Jami at-Tirmidhi 482.
Say the thana, seek refuge, and recite Al-Fatiha and a surah, as in any prayer.
سُبْحَانَكَ اللّٰهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالٰى جَدُّكَ وَلَا إِلٰهَ غَيْرُكَ
Subḥānakallāhumma wa biḥamdika wa tabārakasmuka wa taʿālā jadduka wa lā ilāha ghayruk
Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise. Blessed is Your name, exalted is Your majesty, and there is no god but You.
Sunan Abi Dawud and Jami at-Tirmidhi, from Aishah and Abu Said al-Khudri.
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ﴿١﴾ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ ﴿٢﴾ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ﴿٣﴾ مَٰلِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ ﴿٤﴾ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ﴿٥﴾ ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ ﴿٦﴾ صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ ﴿٧﴾
Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem Alhamdu lillaahi Rabbil 'aalameen Ar-Rahmaanir-Raheem Maaliki Yawmid-Deen Iyyaaka na'budu wa Iyyaaka nasta'een Ihdinas-Siraatal-Mustaqeem Siraatal-lazeena an'amta 'alaihim ghayril-maghdoobi 'alaihim wa lad-daaalleen
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. [All] praise is [due] to Allah, Lord of the worlds - The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful, Sovereign of the Day of Recompense. It is You we worship and You we ask for help. Guide us to the straight path - The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.
Quran 1:1-7 (Surah Al-Fatiha), translation by Sahih International.
Seek refuge, say Bismillah, recite Al-Fatiha and a surah, then say the tasbih 10 times before ruku. Rakah total so far: 25.
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ﴿١﴾ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ ﴿٢﴾ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ﴿٣﴾ مَٰلِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ ﴿٤﴾ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ﴿٥﴾ ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ ﴿٦﴾ صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ ﴿٧﴾
Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem Alhamdu lillaahi Rabbil 'aalameen Ar-Rahmaanir-Raheem Maaliki Yawmid-Deen Iyyaaka na'budu wa Iyyaaka nasta'een Ihdinas-Siraatal-Mustaqeem Siraatal-lazeena an'amta 'alaihim ghayril-maghdoobi 'alaihim wa lad-daaalleen
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. [All] praise is [due] to Allah, Lord of the worlds - The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful, Sovereign of the Day of Recompense. It is You we worship and You we ask for help. Guide us to the straight path - The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.
Quran 1:1-7 (Surah Al-Fatiha), translation by Sahih International.
Still standing, after the surah, say the tasbih 15 times. Rakah total so far: 15.
سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَلَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Subḥānallāhi wal-ḥamdu lillāhi wa lā ilāha illallāhu wallāhu akbar
Glory be to Allah, all praise is for Allah, there is no god but Allah, and Allah is the Greatest.
Sunan Abi Dawud 1297; Sunan Ibn Majah 1387; Jami at-Tirmidhi 482.
Go into ruku, say Subhana rabbiyal-azim three times as usual, then the tasbih 10 times.
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيْمِ
Subḥāna rabbiyal-ʿaẓīm (3 times)
Glory be to my Lord, the Magnificent.
Sahih Muslim 772, from Hudhayfah.
Rise saying Samiallahu liman hamidah, Rabbana lakal-hamd, then say the tasbih 10 times.
سَمِعَ اللّٰهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ
Samiʿallāhu liman ḥamidah. Rabbanā lakal-ḥamd
Allah hears the one who praises Him. Our Lord, to You belongs all praise.
Sahih al-Bukhari 796.
Go into sajdah, say Subhana rabbiyal-ala three times, then the tasbih 10 times.
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلٰى
Subḥāna rabbiyal-aʿlā (3 times)
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
Sahih Muslim 772, from Hudhayfah.
Sit up and say the tasbih 10 times.
Make the second sajdah with its usual tasbih, then the tasbih 10 times. In this method that completes 75 for the rakah.
Make the second sajdah with its usual tasbih, then the tasbih 10 times.
Before standing up, sit briefly and say the tasbih 10 times. That completes 75 for the rakah. In the second and fourth rakahs, say these 10 in the sitting before the tashahhud.
Stand up. Say the tasbih 15 times, then Al-Fatiha and a surah, then 10 more, and continue exactly as in the first rakah, 75 in all.
Stand up, recite Al-Fatiha and a surah, then 15, and continue exactly as in the first rakah, 75 in all.
After the second rakah, sit for the tashahhud, then stand up for the third rakah without salam.
اَلتَّحِيَّاتُ لِلّٰهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلٰى عِبَادِ اللّٰهِ الصّٰلِحِيْنَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَّا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ
At-taḥiyyātu lillāhi waṣ-ṣalawātu waṭ-ṭayyibāt. As-salāmu ʿalayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh. As-salāmu ʿalaynā wa ʿalā ʿibādillāhiṣ-ṣāliḥīn. Ashhadu al lā ilāha illallāhu wa ashhadu anna Muḥammadan ʿabduhū wa rasūluh
All greetings, prayers and good things are for Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.
The tashahhud of Ibn Masud: Sahih al-Bukhari 831; Sahih Muslim 402.
Pray the third and fourth rakahs in the same way, 75 tasbih in each. That makes 300 in the whole prayer.
Sit for the tashahhud, salawat and dua, and finish with salam. If you missed some of the count in one position, add them in the next one, but not in the short standing after ruku or the sitting between the sajdahs; add them in the next sajdah instead.
اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلٰى اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلٰى إِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلٰى اٰلِ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَّجِيْدٌ، اَللّٰهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلٰى اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلٰى إِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلٰى اٰلِ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَّجِيْدٌ
Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā Muḥammadin wa ʿalā āli Muḥammad, kamā ṣallayta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka ḥamīdum majīd. Allāhumma bārik ʿalā Muḥammadin wa ʿalā āli Muḥammad, kamā bārakta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka ḥamīdum majīd
O Allah, send prayers on Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent prayers on Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. You are Praiseworthy, Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. You are Praiseworthy, Glorious.
Sahih al-Bukhari 3370, from Kab ibn Ujrah.
اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ
As-salāmu ʿalaykum wa raḥmatullāh
Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.
Sunan Abi Dawud and Jami at-Tirmidhi, from Ibn Masud.
The count in each rakah
| Position | Ibn al-Mubarak | Ibn Abbas |
|---|---|---|
| Before Al-Fatiha | 15 | 0 |
| After the surah | 10 | 15 |
| Ruku | 10 | 10 |
| After ruku | 10 | 10 |
| Sajdah | 10 | 10 |
| Between sajdahs | 10 | 10 |
| Sajdah | 10 | 10 |
| Sitting after | 0 | 10 |
| Each rakah | 75 | 75 |
The method shown first is the Hanafi one. Where the other madhhabs differ, the guide below explains how. Use the arrow keys to move between steps.
Guide
Salatul Tasbih, the method and its grading.
Salatul Tasbih is a voluntary prayer of four rakahs in which you say "Subhanallahi wal-hamdu lillahi wa la ilaha illallahu wallahu akbar" 75 times in each rakah, 300 times in all. The Prophet ﷺ is reported to have taught it to his uncle al-Abbas, telling him to pray it daily if he could, or weekly, or monthly, or yearly, or once in his life.1
The tasbih
سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَلَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Subḥānallāhi wal-ḥamdu lillāhi wa lā ilāha illallāhu wallāhu akbar
Glory be to Allah, all praise is for Allah, there is no god but Allah, and Allah is the Greatest.
Sunan Abi Dawud 1297; Sunan Ibn Majah 1387; Jami at-Tirmidhi 482.
Is the hadith of Salatul Tasbih authentic?
Scholars of hadith have disagreed about this hadith for over a thousand years, so we state both sides. Accepted: Abu Dawud, al-Hakim, al-Mundhiri, Ibn Hajar (who graded it hasan through its many chains), al-Suyuti and, in recent times, al-Albani, who graded the Abu Dawud narration sahih. Rejected: Ibn al-Jawzi listed it among fabricated reports; Imam Ahmad is reported to have said nothing authentic is narrated about it; al-Uqayli, Ibn Taymiyyah and others called it weak. Al-Nawawi weakened it in al-Majmu but accepted it in other works. Each chain on its own has weakness; those who accept it do so because the chains support one another.
Salatul Tasbih is mustahabb (recommended), and the Hanafi scholars prefer the method of Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak reported by Tirmidhi, because it avoids the sitting after the second sajdah. Pray it at any time except the forbidden times, alone, with one salam after four rakahs.2
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- Recommended by many Shafi'i scholars, using the Ibn Abbas method in Abu Dawud.
- Maliki
- Not part of the Maliki school's recommended prayers.
- Hanbali
- Not recommended in the main Hanbali view, because Imam Ahmad did not accept the hadith. Some Hanbali scholars allowed it.
Because the grading is disputed, Salatul Tasbih should be treated as a voluntary prayer you may choose, not one you must keep or press on others. If you follow scholars who reject the hadith, you lose nothing by leaving it.
When to pray it
Any time outside the forbidden times: at sunrise, when the sun is at its height, at sunset, after the Fajr prayer until sunrise and after the Asr prayer until sunset. Many people pray it on a Friday, or in the last ten nights of Ramadan. A tasbih counter is useful for practising the count before you pray.
- Sunan Abi Dawud 1297 and Sunan Ibn Majah 1387, from Ibn Abbas; Jami at-Tirmidhi 482, from Abu Rafi, with the method of Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak reported in the same chapter.
- Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar, Bab al-Witr wa al-Nawafil. The other madhhabs' positions are summarised from their standard manuals.
The rulings on this page are pending review by the scholars on our team.
Questions
Good to know.
How do you pray Salatul Tasbih?
Pray four rakahs and say the tasbih 75 times in each rakah: 15 standing and 10 in each of six more positions. The steps above go through every position.
What do you say in Salatul Tasbih?
Subhanallahi wal-hamdu lillahi wa la ilaha illallahu wallahu akbar: "Glory be to Allah, all praise is for Allah, there is no god but Allah, and Allah is the Greatest."
Is Salatul Tasbih authentic?
Its hadith is disputed. Ibn Hajar, al-Suyuti and al-Albani accepted it through its several chains; Ibn al-Jawzi, and reportedly Ahmad and Ibn Taymiyyah, rejected it. The Hanafi school counts the prayer as recommended.
How often should I pray Salatul Tasbih?
The hadith says daily if you can, otherwise every Friday, every month, every year or once in a lifetime.
What if I forget the count in one position?
Make it up in the next position. Do not lengthen the standing after ruku or the sitting between the sajdahs for this; add the missed count in the following sajdah instead.
Can Salatul Tasbih be prayed in congregation?
It is a voluntary prayer, so the Hanafi school prefers it alone. Praying voluntary prayers in a planned congregation outside Ramadan is disliked in the Hanafi school.