By Asma bint Shameem
There’s a difference of opinion among the ulama about the validity of Salaat at-Tasbeeh.
There’s mainly the hadeeth of Ibn Abbaas radhi Allaahu anhu that’s related to the subject but the ulama differed about the authenticity of this hadeeth.
Some considered it acceptable while others considered the hadeeth as “weak” and even “fabricated” and thus the difference of opinion.
Many Ulama such as Ibn Taymiyah, ibn al-Qayyim, al-Nawawi, ibn Qudaamah, Shaikh ibn Fawzaan, Ibn Uthaaymeen, etc. did not approve of it.
🍃 Ibn Taymiyah said:
“The best of the reports narrated about these prayers is the narration about Salat al-Tasbeeh, which was narrated by Abu Dawud and al-Tirmidhi, but nevertheless NONE of the four imaams spoke of it;
in fact, Ahmad regarded the narration as da‘eef (weak), and these prayers are NOT mustahabb (recommended).”
[Majmoo‘ al-Fatawa (11/579)]
🍃Ibn Qudaamah said:
“With regard to Salaat al-Tasbeeh, Imaam Ahmad said:
“I do not like it.”
It was said to him: Why?
He said:
“There is nothing Saheeh about it”, and he waved his hand as if dismissing it.”
[Al-Mughni (1/438)]
🍃 The scholars of the Standing Committee said:
“Salaat al-Tasaabeeh is a bid'ah (innovation) and the hadeeth concerning it is not proven, rather it is munkar. Some of the scholars mentioned it among the fabricated ahaadeeth.”
(Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daaýimah, vol. 8, p. 163)
But other ulama considered the hadeeth authentic and said it’s allowed to read Salaat at-Tasbeeh.
And Allaah knows best about that.
So at best, it may be considered ‘doubtful’.
In other words, it’s NOT SURE whether the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam ever SAID these words to Ibn Abbaas radhi Allaahu anhu or not.
And if it is something that is doubtful and may not even be from the Sunnah, then why do it?
And even if some of the Ulama did regard it as something that can be done, realize that others considered it as something doubtful and even fabricated!
The question that really one needs to ask is:
Did the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam ever read this Prayer?
The answer is NO. NEVER.
NO EVIDENCE of that.
And did the Sahaabah besides ibn Abbaas read this prayer ?
Again the answer is NO. NEVER.
NO EVIDENCE of that.
The ONLY evidence is according to this hadeeth of ibn Abbaas, which is considered WEAK by some scholars and FABRICATED by others.
🍃Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen said:
“Salaat al-Tasaabeeh is not prescribed, because the hadeeth is da’eef (weak).
Imaam Ahmad said there is no sound evidence for it.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said it is a fabrication, and he said that none of the imaams recommended it.
He spoke the truth, because whoever examines this prayer will find that it is odd in the way it is performed.
Moreover, if it were prescribed, it would have been something that was reported in many reports because of its great virtue and reward.
Since there are no such reports and none of the imaams described it as being recommended, we know that it is not proven.
The oddness in the way in which it is performed is as described in the hadeeth narrated concerning it, which says that it is to be performed once every day, or once every week, or once every month, or once every year, or once in a lifetime.
This indicates that these reports are not sound; if it were prescribed, it would be something to be done on a regular basis, and one would not be given such a variety of options.
On this basis, people should not do this prayer. And Allaah knows best.”
(Fataawa Manaar al-Islam, 1/203)
🔺Still confused?
Then let me ask you this:
“Why” do we want to read Salaat at-Tasbeeh?
To gain rewards and please Allaah, correct?
Then why would you want to spend your time in doing something that is considered “doubtful” or even “fabricated” by the scholars?
Wouldn't you want to leave it and worship Allaah in a way that is established and for sure prescribed in the Sharee'ah?
Then why spend our time doing something ‘doubtful’ when we could be worshipping Allaah through those ibaadaat that are definitely prescribed in the Sharee’ah and not dubious.
Why would we want to risk our ibaadah ?
Didn't the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam say?
"Leave that which makes you doubt for that which does not make you doubt." (al-Tirmidhi--Saheeh by al-Albaani)
We can use the time we would have spent reading Salaat at-Tasbeeh, more efficiently by reading Qur’aan, memorizing it, gaining authentic knowledge or spreading it, giving charity, helping others, reading general nawaafil, engaging in dua, dhikr, Istighfaar, etc... anything that is confirmed from teachings of the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam.
There are so many known and established, prescribed ways to come closer to Allaah and earn rewards Alhamdulillaah.
Why do we need to resort to any ibaadah that’s ‘doubtful’?
I myself “used” to read this Salaat at-Tasbeeh when I was younger, every single Friday no matter what!
Come rain or shine, I would read it since I was 15 years old for years, although it takes a good 45 minutes to read it.
I even read it when I was in medical school and had exams the next day!
Subhaan Allaah.
But when I found out that the hadeeth is doubtful and there is no evidence that the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam himself read it or even the Sahaabah ever read it, I stopped.
Alhamdulillaah.
I know that it's hard to break built-in, hardened habits.
But if our goal is to follow Islaam the way it was revealed to the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam, then we should push hard to overcome those ingrained habits and thus aim to attain the pleasure of Allaah rather than 'pleasing ourselves'.
May Allaah guide us always and forgive our mistakes past, present and future ones.
And enable us to practice this Deen in a manner that's pleasing to Him. Ameen.
And Allaah knows best.
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