The Tasbih prayer
A four-rakʿah prayer in which one phrase of glorification is repeated 300 times — a gift the Prophet ﷺ taught to al-ʿAbbās.
What is Salat al-Tasbih?
Ṣalāt al-Tasbīḥ is a four-rakʿah nāfilah prayer in which the same tasbīḥ is repeated 75 times per rakʿah — 300 in total. The Prophet ﷺ said to his uncle al-ʿAbbās: "If you can pray it every day, do so; if not, once a week; if not, once a month; if not, once a year; if not, at least once in your lifetime." (Abu Dawud)
It is a means of asking Allah to forgive all sins — first and last, deliberate and accidental, small and great, public and private.
Key facts
- A special four-rakʿah prayer taught by the Prophet ﷺ to his uncle al-ʿAbbās (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi).
- In each rakʿah the tasbīḥ is said 75 times — total 300 across the four rakʿahs.
- The tasbīḥ: SubḥānAllāh wa-l-ḥamdu lillāh wa lā ilāha illa-llāh wa-llāhu akbar.
- Recommended once a day, once a week, once a month, once a year — or at least once in a lifetime.
- May be prayed at any time except the three forbidden times.
- Prayed silently or with quiet recitation, whether alone or in congregation.
Distribution of the 75 per rakʿah
- 15 times: after Al-Fātiḥa and the surah, while still standing.
- 10 times: in rukūʿ, after the tasbīḥ of rukūʿ.
- 10 times: after rising from rukūʿ (iʿtidāl), while standing straight.
- 10 times: in the first sujūd, after the tasbīḥ of sujūd.
- 10 times: sitting between the two sujūds.
- 10 times: in the second sujūd, after the tasbīḥ of sujūd.
- 10 times: sitting after the second sujūd, before standing for the next rakʿah.
- Total per rakʿah: 75. Total for four rakʿahs: 300.
Step by step
Intention & Opening Takbir
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allāhu Akbar
Face the Qibla, intend Ṣalāt al-Tasbīḥ (four rakʿahs) in your heart. Raise both hands and say the takbir. Recite the opening duʿāʾ, Al-Fātiḥa and a short surah.
Still standing · 15× Tasbīḥ
After finishing Al-Fātiḥa and the surah — and before bowing — repeat the tasbīḥ 15 times.
Note: The Tasbīḥ: Subḥāna-llāh wa-l-ḥamdu lillāh wa lā ilāha illa-llāh wa-llāhu akbar.
Rukūʿ · 10× Tasbīḥ
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
Subḥāna Rabbiya-l-ʿAẓīm (×3)
Bow into rukūʿ, say the tasbīḥ of rukūʿ three times, then repeat the special tasbīḥ 10 times.
Iʿtidāl (standing back up) · 10×
سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ · رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ
Samiʿa-llāhu li-man ḥamidah · Rabbanā wa laka-l-ḥamd
Rise from rukūʿ. Once standing upright, say the special tasbīḥ 10 times before going down into sujūd.
First Sujūd · 10×
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى
Subḥāna Rabbiya-l-Aʿlā (×3)
Prostrate. Say the tasbīḥ of sujūd three times, then the special tasbīḥ 10 times.
Sitting between the two sujūds · 10×
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي
Rabbi-ghfir lī
Rise into the sitting position. Say the special tasbīḥ 10 times.
Second Sujūd · 10×
Prostrate again. Say the tasbīḥ of sujūd three times, then the special tasbīḥ 10 times.
Jalsat al-istirāḥa · 10×
Before standing for the next rakʿah, remain seated briefly and say the special tasbīḥ 10 more times. This completes 75 tasbīḥs for the rakʿah.
Note: In rakʿahs 2 and 4, this sitting replaces the Tashahhud sitting — the 10× is said before or after the Tashahhud.
Rakʿahs 2, 3 and 4
Repeat the same 75-tasbīḥ pattern in the second, third and fourth rakʿahs. Sit for the Tashahhud after the second rakʿah and the final rakʿah as normal.
Tashahhud & Tasleem
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ
As-salāmu ʿalaykum wa raḥmatu-llāh
In the final sitting, recite the Tashahhud, the Ibrāhīmiyya salawat, then give the tasleem to the right and left. Your total is 300 tasbīḥs.
The Tasbīḥ
The special Tasbīḥ
×75 per rakʿahسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، وَلَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Subḥāna-llāh, wa-l-ḥamdu lillāh, wa lā ilāha illa-llāh, wa-llāhu akbar.
"Glory be to Allah. All praise is for Allah. There is no god but Allah. Allah is the Greatest."
Scholars differ on the authenticity of Ṣalāt al-Tasbīḥ; many great scholars (including al-Nawawī and Ibn Ḥajar) considered its hadith authentic enough to practise. Consult a qualified scholar for madhhab-specific guidance.