Open Quran with prayer beads and subtle Islamic elements illustrating the virtues and complete method of Salat-ut-Tasbih – a guide for spiritual devotion.
Virtues and Complete Method of Salat-ut-Tasbih
Salat-ut-Tasbih is a highly virtuous prayer. Numerous benefits and immense rewards of this prayer are mentioned in the noble Hadith. Scholars state that after learning about the excellence and greatness of this prayer, no one abandons it except a person who is lazy in religious matters.
It is mentioned in Ahadith that Allah Almighty forgives all the sins of the person who performs Salat-ut-Tasbih: previous and later sins, old and new sins, those committed knowingly and unknowingly, small and great sins, hidden and apparent— all are forgiven.
After teaching this prayer, the Holy Prophet ﷺ said:
- If possible, perform it once daily.
- If that is not possible, then once a week.
- If that is not possible, then once a month.
- If that also is not possible, then once a year.
- And if even that is not possible, then at least once in a lifetime.
(General books of Hadith)
Method of Salat-ut-Tasbih (Hanafi Method)
The method of Salat-ut-Tasbih that is commonly practiced is narrated in Tirmidhi Sharif through the narration of Hazrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (رضی اللہ عنہ):
Make the intention, say Allahu Akbar, and recite the opening supplication (Thana):
سُبْحَانَكَ اللّٰهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالٰى جَدُّكَ وَلَاۤ إِلٰهَ غَيْرُكَ
After that, recite the following Tasbih 15 times:
سُبْحَانَ اللهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَلَاۤ إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَاللهُ أَكْبَرُ
Then recite A‘udhu Billah, Bismillah, Surah Al-Fatihah, and any other Surah, and again recite this Tasbih 10 times.
Go into Ruku‘ and after saying سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ, recite the Tasbih 10 times.
Stand up from Ruku‘ and after saying سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَہ, recite the Tasbih 10 times.
In the first Sajdah, after saying سُبْحَانَ رَبِّی الْاَعْلٰی, recite the Tasbih 10 times.
Sit up from Sajdah (Jalsah) and recite the Tasbih 10 times.
In the second Sajdah, again recite the Tasbih 10 times.
In this manner, complete four Rak‘ahs. Each Rak‘ah contains 75 Tasbihat, and the four Rak‘ahs together contain 300 Tasbihat.
Issues Related to Salat-ut-Tasbih
Issue: If, due to any mistake, Sajdah-e-Sahw becomes obligatory in this prayer, then Sajdah-e-Sahw should be performed, but the Tasbih should not be recited in those Sajdahs.
Issue: If at any position fewer than ten Tasbihat are recited due to forgetfulness, then the remaining count should be completed at the next available place of Tasbih. For example, if one forgets in Ruku‘, it should be completed in Sajdah and not in Qawmah, because Qawmah is brief. If one forgets in the first Sajdah, it should be completed in the second Sajdah and not in Jalsah. (Radd-ul-Muhtar)
Explanation: Standing straight after Ruku‘ is called Qawmah, and sitting between the two Sajdahs is called Jalsah.
Issue: Counting the Tasbih on fingers is disliked; it is better to count in the heart, otherwise by pressing the fingers.
Issue: This prayer may be offered at any non-disliked time. It is preferable to offer it before Zuhr, i.e., between the Sunnah and Fard of Zuhr. (Alamgiri, Radd-ul-Muhtar)
Method and Virtue of Salat-ul-Hajah
When a person has a need, he should perform two or four Rak‘ahs of Salat-ul-Hajah.
It is mentioned in Hadith: In the first Rak‘ah, recite Surah Al-Fatihah followed by Ayat-ul-Kursi three times. In the remaining three Rak‘ahs, recite Surah Al-Fatihah followed by: قُلْ هُوَ اللهُ أَحَدٌ, قُلْ اَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ, and قُلْ اَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ, once each.
The reward of this prayer is equivalent to performing four Rak‘ahs on the Night of Decree (Laylat-ul-Qadr). The pious elders state that they performed this prayer and saw their needs fulfilled.
After completing the prayer, one should supplicate, sending Durood Sharif at the beginning and end.
Salat-ul-Asrar (Salat-e-Ghausiyah)
For the fulfillment of needs, a well-known and tested prayer is Salat-ul-Asrar, also known as Salat-e-Ghausiyah. It is narrated by scholars such as Mulla Ali Qari, Shaykh Abdul Haq Muhaddith Dehlvi, and other great scholars from Sayyiduna Ghaus-e-Azam (رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ).
Method: After performing the Sunnah prayers of Maghrib, offer two Rak‘ahs of Nafl. In each Rak‘ah, after Surah Al-Fatihah, recite قُلْ هُوَ اللهُ أَحَدٌ eleven times. After Salam, praise Allah Almighty. Then send Durood upon the Noble Prophet ﷺ eleven times. Then recite the following supplication eleven times:
يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ يَا نَبِيَّ اللهِ أَغِثْنِي وَامْدُدْنِي فِي قَضَاءِ حَاجَتِي يَا قَاضِيَ الْحَاجَاتِ
After that, walk eleven steps towards the direction of Iraq, and at each step recite:
يَا غَوْثَ الثَّقَلَيْنِ وَيَا كَرِيمَ الطَّرَفَيْنِ أَغِثْنِي وَامْدُدْنِي فِي قَضَاءِ حَاجَتِي يَا قَاضِيَ الْحَاجَاتِ
Then supplicate to Allah Almighty through the means of Sayyiduna Ghaus-e-Azam (رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ). In shaa Allah, the desire will be fulfilled soon.
Statement of the Pious Elders
Imam Ajall Abu-l-Hasan Noor-ud-Din narrates in his famous book Bahjat-ul-Asrar that Sayyiduna Ghaus-e-Azam (رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ) said:
Whoever calls upon my name in difficulty, Allah removes his hardship. And whoever seeks Allah through me as a means, his need is fulfilled.
May Allah Almighty bless us all with the blessings of Sayyiduna Ghaus-e-Azam (رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ). Ameen.