The Status and Virtues of Salat al-Tasbih according to the Muhaddithin
By Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Shaykh Harun Abasoomar and Mawlana Zeyad Danka
Edited and compiled by ‘Abd Allah Ibn Muhammad al-Afriqui
The Hadith concerning Salat al-Tasbih
‘Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) has narrated that he was once informed by Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace), ”O ‘Abbas! Should I not present to you? Should I not confer to you? Should I not inform you of such an act, which if you practise [these wordings of similar meaning were repeated in order to capture the attention of the listener and to emphasise the importance of the salah so as to instil a yearning to perform it], Allah will forgive all your sins, whether old or new, intentional or unintentional, minor or major, open or secret.” [After describing the method of performing this salah] Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace) stated, ”If possible, you should offer this salah once everyday, and if you cannot perform it daily, then offer it every Friday (weekly), or once a month, or once a year or at least once in your lifetime.” (Sunan Abu Dawud, hadith1297)
Discussion on the authenticity of the Hadith
The ruling regarding Salat al-Tasbih is that it is permissible and, in fact, very much encouraged. The hadith in question has been accepted as sahih (authentic) or hasan (sound) by various eminent muhaddithin (hadith scholars). Those that claimed that it was weak, did so on the basis of a few chains of narration. However, if all the various chains be gathered, there will remain no doubt as to its authenticity.