I once read about the Prayer of Tasbih that it is beneficial and one of the greatest means of drawing near to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). What is its specific form, and is it established?
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The questioner : The listener also, in his questions, says: I once read about the Prayer of Tasbih that it is beneficial and one of the greatest means of drawing near to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). What is its specific form, and is it established in the Prophetic hadiths? Please inform us. May Allah reward you with good?
The Shaykh : Yes. The Prayer of Tasbih has hadiths reported from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that a person should pray it every day, or every week, or every month, or every year, or once in a lifetime. However, this prayer is not authentic from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and its hadith is a lie, as stated by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him). He said: "And none of the Imams recommended it". If this prayer were part of the Shari'ah of Allah and prescribed, it would have been known to the Ummah and famous among them. This is because there is ample motivation to transmit it; it is an unusual prayer, and the custom regarding unusual matters is that they are circulated and transmitted among people. It is also a prayer that would be beneficial if it were authentic, and something like this cannot remain in such obscurity that no one knows of it or that only a small group of people publicizes it. Furthermore, it is an anomalous prayer compared to the other prayers. It is also performed daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, or once in a lifetime, and no prayer is known to be performed in this manner with this arrangement.
Therefore, the truth is that the Prayer of Tasbih is not prescribed, and a person should not perform it. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : Yes. The Prayer of Tasbih has hadiths reported from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that a person should pray it every day, or every week, or every month, or every year, or once in a lifetime. However, this prayer is not authentic from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and its hadith is a lie, as stated by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him). He said: "And none of the Imams recommended it". If this prayer were part of the Shari'ah of Allah and prescribed, it would have been known to the Ummah and famous among them. This is because there is ample motivation to transmit it; it is an unusual prayer, and the custom regarding unusual matters is that they are circulated and transmitted among people. It is also a prayer that would be beneficial if it were authentic, and something like this cannot remain in such obscurity that no one knows of it or that only a small group of people publicizes it. Furthermore, it is an anomalous prayer compared to the other prayers. It is also performed daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, or once in a lifetime, and no prayer is known to be performed in this manner with this arrangement.
Therefore, the truth is that the Prayer of Tasbih is not prescribed, and a person should not perform it. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.