Question : A question was asked regarding the validity of the tasabih prayer.

Fatwa in Brief: The tasabih prayers are a reprehensible innovation. The hadith upon which they are based is not reliable (thabit); hence, these prayers should be rejected.

The Permanent Committee, 8/164

Response:

There is nothing to prevent Muslims performing the tasabih prayers. Indeed, doing so is a virtuous act, and [even] weak hadiths are to be accepted when they agree with [the spirit of] virtuous acts.

Commentary:

A hadith in support of the validity of the tasabih prayers is included in the works of Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, Ibn Khuzayma (in his sahih), and al-Tabrani. It has been narrated in different ways and attributed to different Companions. Hence, al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar, for example, attributes this same report to ‘Akrama ibn ‘Abbas. In this hadith, the Prophet (upon him be peace) said: “If you are able to pray them (tasabih) once a day, do so. If, however, you are unable to do so, pray the tasabih once a week. If you are incapable of doing this, then do so once a month. If this is not possible, do it once a year. And, if you are [still] unable to do even this, perform tasabih prayers once in your life”. This hadith was considered sound (sahih) by some of the transmitters [of hadiths].

Abu Faraj ibn al-Jawzi mentioned other hadiths on the tasabih prayer. He considered all of these weak, and discussed [what he perceived as] their weaknesses. Al-Nawawi said: A group of Imams among our friends, the Shafi‘is, have determined that the tasabih prayers are recommended. Among these Shafi‘is we find al-Baghawi and al-Ruyani, who attribute a tradition to ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Mubarak saying that they [the tasabih prayers] are desired (murghab fiha). According to these scholars, it is recommended (mustahab) to perform them every now and then, and not to forget about them completely. Another group of scholars, however, consider doing so illegal, on the grounds that the tasabih are innovations, without sufficient and trustworthy evidence.

Because of the disagreement over this matter, the one who performs the tasabih prayers is not to be blamed. For [as we have stated before], the performance of any act, about which there is legal disagreement, may not be described as illegal. In addition [in this case], there is virtue to be found in the performance of these prayers; and, as many scholars point out, weak hadiths are acceptable [as evidence] when they agree with [the spirit of] virtuous acts. Similarly, the tasabih are also a kind of prayer, and thus include the mention of God’s name. There is nothing here, then, which runs counter to the basic principles of Islam. Rather, the tasabih prayers are much like all voluntary prayers, though they include more mentions of the tasbih formula [the tasbih = “subhan allahi…” see above]. And are we not commanded to glorify God [by saying the tasbih] day and night? Ultimately, prayer [including the tasabih] is the best of all acts.

And God knows best.

Dr. Ahmad ‘Id