Salatul Tasbeeh (also written Salat al-Tasbih, صلاۃ التسبیح) is a special nafl prayer of four rak’ahs in which a short tasbeeh is repeated 75 times in every rak’ah, making 300 in total. The Prophet ﷺ taught it to his uncle Sayyiduna Abbas (RA) and mentioned a great promise of forgiveness for it. Many families, especially in Pakistan and South Asia, pray it on Fridays, in Ramadan, on Shab-e-Barat and other blessed nights.
This guide explains the tasbeeh words with Arabic and translation, the hadith with references and grades, the step-by-step Hanafi method (the method of Imam Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak), a counting table, and common mistakes, in simple words.
The Tasbeeh of Salatul Tasbeeh
The words repeated throughout the prayer are the famous four phrases of dhikr:
سُبْحَانَ اللّٰهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ وَلَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَاللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ
Transliteration: Subhan-Allahi wal-hamdu lillahi wa la ilaha illallahu wallahu akbar.
Translation: Glory be to Allah, all praise is for Allah, there is no god except Allah, and Allah is the Greatest.
Say these words silently (in the heart and with the lips, without raising the voice). Every time the guide below says “10 times”, it means this whole sentence 10 times.
Hadith About Salatul Tasbeeh (With References)
1. Sunan Abi Dawud 1297
Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas (RA) narrates that the Prophet ﷺ said to his uncle Abbas (RA) that if he prayed four rak’ahs saying this tasbeeh 75 times in each rak’ah, Allah would forgive his sins: the first and the last, the old and the new, the unintentional and the deliberate, the small and the great, the hidden and the open. He then advised praying it every day if possible, otherwise once a week (on Friday), once a month, once a year, or at least once in a lifetime.
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud 1297 (Book of Prayer). Graded Sahih by Shaykh al-Albani, as shown on sunnah.com.
2. Jami at-Tirmidhi 482
Sayyiduna Abu Rafi (RA) narrates that the Prophet ﷺ taught the same prayer to Abbas (RA), describing 75 tasbeehs in each rak’ah.
Reference: Jami at-Tirmidhi 482. Imam Tirmidhi called it gharib (narrated through a single route); Darussalam’s grading on sunnah.com is Sahih. In the chapter just before it (Tirmidhi 481), Imam Tirmidhi records the method of Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak, which is the method followed in the Hanafi tradition.
A note on scholarly views: Hadith scholars have discussed the chains of this hadith for centuries. A few, such as Ibn al-Jawzi, criticised it, while many others accepted it as authentic (Sahih or Hasan) because of its several supporting chains; Shaykh al-Albani also graded it Sahih. The Hanafi scholars, and the scholars of Ahl-e-Sunnat in the subcontinent generally, accept Salatul Tasbeeh as a recommended (mustahab) nafl prayer and have practised it for generations.
Salatul Tasbeeh Method: Step by Step (Hanafi)
Pray four rak’ahs of nafl with one salam (two sets of two rak’ahs are also allowed). Make wudu, face the qiblah and follow these steps.
Niyyat (intention)
Intention is in the heart. If you wish to say it in words: “I intend to pray four rak’ahs of nafl Salatul Tasbeeh for Allah Ta’ala, facing the Ka’bah.” Then say Allahu Akbar and fold your hands.
First rak’ah
- Read Thana (Subhanakallahumma…), then say the tasbeeh 15 times.
- Read Ta’awwudh and Bismillah, then Surah al-Fatiha and any surah. Before going to ruku, say the tasbeeh 10 times.
- Go into ruku, say Subhana Rabbiyal Azeem 3 times, then the tasbeeh 10 times.
- Stand up (qawmah), say Sami Allahu liman hamidah, Rabbana lakal hamd, then the tasbeeh 10 times.
- Go into the first sajdah, say Subhana Rabbiyal A’la 3 times, then the tasbeeh 10 times.
- Sit up between the two sajdahs (jalsa) and say the tasbeeh 10 times.
- Go into the second sajdah, say Subhana Rabbiyal A’la 3 times, then the tasbeeh 10 times.
- Stand up straight for the second rak’ah (no extra sitting).
Second, third and fourth rak’ahs
Repeat the same pattern. Since Thana is only read in the first rak’ah, in the other rak’ahs you say the tasbeeh 15 times after standing up and before Surah al-Fatiha. After the second rak’ah sit for Tashahhud (At-Tahiyyat) and stand up for the third. In the fourth rak’ah, after the last sajdah, sit for Tashahhud, Durood-e-Ibrahimi and dua, then end with salam.
Salatul Tasbeeh: 300 Tasbeeh Count Table
| Position (each rak’ah) | Hanafi method (Ibn al-Mubarak) | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Standing, after Thana / before Fatiha | Tasbeeh | 15 |
| Standing, after Fatiha and surah | Tasbeeh | 10 |
| Ruku (after Subhana Rabbiyal Azeem) | Tasbeeh | 10 |
| Qawmah (after Rabbana lakal hamd) | Tasbeeh | 10 |
| First sajdah | Tasbeeh | 10 |
| Jalsa (between the sajdahs) | Tasbeeh | 10 |
| Second sajdah | Tasbeeh | 10 |
| Total per rak’ah | 75 | |
| Total for 4 rak’ahs | 300 |
The Second Narrated Method
The wording of the hadith in Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi describes a slightly different order: there is no tasbeeh before Fatiha; instead, 15 are said after the recitation, and the last 10 are said while sitting briefly after the second sajdah, before standing up. The total is still 75 per rak’ah.
Both methods are narrated and both are valid. Hanafis prefer the Ibn al-Mubarak method because in the Hanafi school there is no sitting after the second sajdah (jalsa-e-istirahat) before standing up. Whichever you follow, keep the same method throughout the prayer and do not criticise those who follow the other.
When to Pray Salatul Tasbeeh
- Any time except the makruh (disliked) times: sunrise, zawal (exact midday) and sunset, and after Fajr and Asr until the sun rises or sets, according to the Hanafi school.
- Many people pray it on Friday, especially before Zuhr or Jumu’ah.
- It is popular in the nights of Ramadan, on Shab-e-Barat and on Laylatul Qadr. It can be prayed alone; in Hanafi fiqh, praying nafl in congregation (jama’at) with announcement is disliked, so it is better to pray it individually.
- The hadith encourages it daily, weekly, monthly, yearly or at least once in a lifetime.
Common Mistakes and Rulings
Counting
Do not count aloud and do not hold a tasbeeh (beads) in your hand during the prayer. Scholars advise counting silently, for example by gently pressing the fingers in place, without moving the hands.
If you forget the tasbeeh in one position
If you miss the tasbeeh or some of it in one position, make it up in the next position. Hanafi scholars say it should not be made up in qawmah or jalsa (which are short positions) but in the following ruku or sajdah. For example, if you forget it in ruku, say the missed 10 along with the normal 10 in the first sajdah.
Sajdah-e-sahw
If you need to perform sajdah-e-sahw for a mistake in the prayer, do not say the tasbeeh in it. Imam Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak was asked about this and said no, because the total is only 300 (Jami at-Tirmidhi, chapter of Salat al-Tasbih, hadith 481).
FAQs
How many rak’ahs is Salatul Tasbeeh?
Four rak’ahs, with 75 tasbeehs in each, making 300 in total.
Can women pray Salatul Tasbeeh?
Yes. The method is the same for men and women, with the normal differences in posture that apply in every salah.
Can I read Salatul Tasbeeh in two sets of two rak’ahs?
Yes. Four rak’ahs with one salam is common in the Hanafi practice, but praying two and two is also allowed, especially at night.
Which surahs should I read in Salatul Tasbeeh?
Any surahs you know are fine. Some scholars recommend surahs such as At-Takathur, Al-Asr, Al-Kafirun and Al-Ikhlas, but this is not compulsory.
Is Salatul Tasbeeh fard or sunnah?
It is not fard. It is a recommended (mustahab) nafl prayer. Leaving it is not a sin, but praying it carries a great reward, in sha Allah.
Salatul Tasbeeh is a simple way to fill your weeks with dhikr and seek Allah’s forgiveness. If this guide helped you, share it with your family, and write any question in the comments below. For detailed personal masail, please consult a qualified mufti.
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