Salatu-Tasbih (the Prayer of Glorification) represents a voluntary act of worship centered on intense divine remembrance and supplication. Engaging in supererogatory prayers serves as a primary means for believers to draw closer to the Creator and seek spiritual elevation. While voluntary worship is widely encouraged, specific voluntary prayers carry distinct legal evaluations regarding their authentic transmission and prescribed format.
The Format and Promised Rewards of the Prayer
The tradition associated with this prayer describes ten spiritual gifts, declaring that performing it brings divine forgiveness for ten categories of sins: early and late, old and new, unintentional and deliberate, small and great, secret and open.
The described method consists of four units (rak’ahs). In each unit, after reciting Surah Al-Fatiha and another Quranic passage, the worshipper recites the phrase “Subhanallah, walhamdulillah, wa la ilaha illallah, wallahu akbar” fifteen times while standing. The same glorification is then recited ten times during bowing (ruku’), ten times while standing upright after bowing, ten times in the first prostration (sujud), ten times while sitting between the two prostrations, ten times during the second prostration, and ten times while sitting briefly before rising or completing the unit. This sequence yields seventy-five glorifications per unit, totaling three hundred across the four units. The report suggests performing this prayer daily, weekly on Friday, monthly, yearly, or at least once during a person’s lifetime. This narration is recorded in Sunan Abi Dawud 1297.
Scholarly Evaluation and Authenticity Debates
Islamic jurists and Hadith specialists hold differing views regarding the validity of this narration. Scholars note that the report does not appear in primary Hadith collections such as Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, or the Muwatta of Imam Malik. Classical legal authorities were largely unacquainted with the report, and prominent early Imams considered its structure unusual within Islamic jurisprudence.
Prominent Hadith critics analyzed its chains of transmission, evaluating them as weak or unreliable. Scholars highlight that the unique structure of this prayer departs significantly from the established, prescribed format of standard Islamic prayers. Consequently, several classical Hadith authorities categorized the text among weak or unsupported reports, maintaining that its chains do not meet the rigorous standards required for establishing voluntary ritual practices.
Established Voluntary Prayers in Prophetic Tradition
In light of these traditional evaluations, many scholars view the practice as lacking authentic foundation. Rather than relying on highly disputed devotional formats, Islamic jurisprudence emphasizes sufficiency in well-established voluntary prayers transmitted through authentic chains.
Believers seeking divine proximity, forgiveness, or assistance are encouraged to perform proven voluntary prayers anchored in authentic Sunnah. Practices such as the Prayer of Need (Salat al-Hajah), the Consultation Prayer (Salat al-Istikharah), and the Prayer of Repentance (Salat at-Tawbah) provide clear, undisputed avenues for addressing spiritual and worldly needs.
