Among the optional prayers, this prayer is given great eminence.
Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas reports that the Prophet (SAW) said to his uncle Abbas ibn Abdul Muttalib, "Shall I not give you a gift? Shall I grant you a blessing? Shall I inform you of a great benefit? Shall I give you something, which if you do, Allah Taala will forgive you all your sins, old, past and new, committed by mistake or knowingly, small and big, committed in secret or openly?
What you have to do is offer 4 rak'ah of optional prayers in this way: in every rak'ah after the Al-Hamd and Surah and while yet standing, recite the third kalimah 15 times, then in the bowing, ruku, 10 times, standing up after the bow, qoma, 10 times, then in each prostration 10 times and in between the two prostrations 10 times, and sitting up after the second prostration, 10 times; 75 times per rak'ah, 300 times in total.
Then, He said, "If possible, offer this prayer once every day; if you cannot, offer it once on Fridays, if this is not possible, offer it once a month, if this too is not possible, offer it once a year, and if even this is not possible, offer it once in your lifetime!"
(Ibn Maja, Tirmizi, Abu Daud)
Hazrat Abbas used to offer this prayer every Friday and Abu Jauzan Ta-i used to come to the Mosque every day as soon as the azan for the noon prayers was called and would offer it by the time jamaat stood up for the farz prayers. Hazrat Abdul Aziz bin abi Radad held that he who wantedparadise should hold on firmly to Salaat-al-Tasbih. According to Abu Usman Teri, "There is nothing better than Salaat-al-Tasbih to keep away troubles and sorrow"
The Niyyah: "My Niyah is 4 rak'aat of Salaat-Al-Tasbih for Allah, facing the Qiblah"
Propositions regarding Salaat-Al-Tasbih
A. No specific Surah is prescribed; however, according to some Ahadith, there should be at least 20 verses.
B. The counting should not be done orally (because this would disturb the prayer) but by pressing one of the fingers, wherever it may be.
C. If the recital is forgotten, the count should be made up in the next part, but never in between prostrations or during the qoma, not after the first and third rak'ah, but after the second or fourth rak'ah.
D. If for any reason the need arises for a sahw prostration (an extra prostration required after concluding the prayers because of forgetting) the Kalimaat should not be recited in it, but if the count is missed, the Kalimaat may be recited in it.
1. This prayer may be offered any time except when a prayer is makrooh.
2. It is better to offer it after the sun begins to decline.
3. After the words: Subhan Allah, wal Hamd u lil-Lah wa la ilaha illal-Lah-u-Akbar, the words, wa la hawla wa la quwwat illa bil-Lah il-ali ul azeem should be added (according to some traditions)
4. The words should be recited in the second and fourth rak'ah before al-Tahiyaat and during the bow and prostration, the words Subhana Raab be al azeem and Subhana Ra be al Aala respectively should be recited first and then the Kalimaat.
5. Another way is to recite the words 15 times after Subhan but before Al Hamd. Then 10 times after Al Hamd and a Surah. The rest as stated above.
If the latter procedure is followed, there will be no need to recite the kalimat after the first and third rak'ah nor before al Tahiyat in the fourth, (because the 75 times will have been completed at the end of the second prostration of every rak'ah)
