You should aim to develop the following 7 Spiritually Productive activities into habits so that you can hopefully continue benefitting from them throughout your life. I consider these activities as the spiritual ‘bread and butter’ of any ProductiveMuslim. To develop them as habits is the essence of embarking on your journey towards the love of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) and constantly increasing in your eman, inshaAllah:

1) Pray the Sunnah Prayers before and/or after Prayer:

I know it’s easier to just pray the obligatory prayers and rush out of the mosque! However, when we realise the rewards we’re missing from not praying these Sunnah prayers we won’t leave them. Over the years I have learnt there’s only ONE way of getting yourself to pray these Sunnah prayers constantly: Get into the habit of praying them! They’ll soon become part and parcel of your Salah and your Salah will feel incomplete without performing these acts.

2) Remembrance of Allah after Salah:

Again, it’s easy to rush out after Salah due to our busy lives, though if we are honest, how long does it take to recite the supplications after Salah? (The Answer: 5-7 minutes!). If you’re not sure what I’m referring to, you may find the supplications here. Nowadays you’ll find pocket notebooks/or phone applications with these supplications. Get into the habit of reciting them daily after each Salah to enrich your Salah experience.

3) Morning/Evening Remembrance of Allah:

Step 2 is also included in this habit. There exists a beautiful set of duas/remembrances from the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) which he used to say before sunrise and after sunset. They are true stress relievers and energy boosters which never fail to make my days and evenings feel blessed. [You can find the duas here]

4) Night Prayer:

Hamdulillah, during Ramadan we have the wonderful Taraweeh prayers to attend. However, outside of Ramadan there are many opportunities to still obtain the reward of the night prayer. If you’re new to night prayer or you don’t pray it constantly during the year, make sure you try to attend prayers each and every night in congregation at the mosque (particularly brothers), and give yourself a ‘no-excuse’ policy. Develop a habit of praying Tahajjud and continuing to pray them for an entire 30 days; this will set you on better footing to continue with the Night Prayer for the rest of the year inshaAllah.

5) Duha Prayer:

Here’s a Productive Muslim’s top secret to a productive day: 2 rak’ahs known as the Duha prayer which you may pray at anytime after sunrise till before the sun reaches it’s zenith (around 30 minutes before Dhuhr). The reward of this prayer is similar to giving charity on behalf of every bone in your body, and the energy and buzz you feel during the day is amazing.

6) Supplications before you Sleep:

You’ve just had a long day and you’re super tired. You climb into bed and you want to hit the sack… but wait! Before you do, can you give yourself just 10 more minutes to recite the supplications before sleeping? That’s all. Try them and find yourself experiencing the most beautiful sleep ever and waking up for Fajr easily, inshaAllah. Supplications on MakeDua.com

7) Reciting one hour of Quran each day:

Notice: I said here recite one hour of Quran each day and not one juz’ or one Surah. The amount of Quran you read is not as important as the quality of your understanding. If you spend one hour reciting one verse but understand it fully, that’s more important and beneficial then reciting lots of Quran at break-neck speed yet not understanding a word.

So there you go, 7 spiritually productive habits you can develop throughout the year starting from TODAY!

courtesy of: ProductiveMuslim.com

Practical Tips on Getting Your Little Loved Ones to Make and Enjoy Salah

By Maysoon Zaza

In a hadeeth narrated by Abdullah ibn Qart the Messenger of Allah (saws) said,
“The first act that the servant of Allah will be accountable for on the Day of Judgment will be salah. If it is good, then the rest of his acts will be good. And if it is evil, then the rest of his acts will be evil.” (Tabarani)

Furthermore, salah was the first act of worship that was made obligatory by Allah. Therefore, due to its extreme importance to the Believer, salah should be one of the first acts of worship that parents should teach their children.

When discussing teaching children how to make salah parents typically ask when is it necessary to begin teaching their children. Let us be realistic; learning how to make salah is not easy for children or in some cases adults. It can take a lot of work to master even the simplest elements of salah. The learner must memorize the various du’aa and Surah’s of the Qur’an- not to mention the other required portions of the salah. Furthermore, there must be work on proper pronunciation and rules on how, when, and what makes salah valid. This is not an overnight process but rather one that takes times. Therefore, this leaves us with the question-when should children learn how to make salah?

Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-As, narrated that the Apostle of Allah, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said, “Command your children to make salah when they become seven years old, and spank them for it (salah) when they become ten years old, and arrange their beds (to sleep) separately.” (Abu Dawud). This does not mean that parents can only start teaching their children how to perform it when they reach the age of seven. Rather, informal instruction should start when a child starts to show an interest in salah, which usually occurs around the age of two. It is only human nature that children love to imitate their parents. In fact, this is one method that Allah has provided us for teaching our youth.

Therefore, it is important for parents of small children to let them “pretend” to make the salah along side of the parents. The benefits for this are twofold. First, it teaches children that it is necessary to make salah everyday five times a day. And second, it helps children learn the physical movements of the salah. It really is amazing how fast a two-year-old will learn the phrase Allahu-Akbar when he performs salah along side of his parents!

The next step is to teach your child al-Fatihah. This should begin around the age of three or four. When teaching children Surah’s or any other portions of the salah that must be memorized; it is important to remember to break down the instructions by using a reasonable number of verses or small segments. In other words, teaching a child how to perform the salah should be done progressively in small steps. It is important to practice reciting the previously learned material consistently everyday along with any new material. These practice sessions should only last between 5 to 15 minutes. At this age, length of practice is not as important as consistency. Also, it is important to note that not everyday will your child be ready to learn new material. Work on mastery of material not quantity. The other question many parents ask is whether or not to teach Surah’s using Tajweed. Actually, many parents find it helpful to combine the two. Children have an amazing ability to remember songs in commercials or various children’s song. For many children, the act of singing actually makes it easier to memorize. However, at this age it is important not to focus on the rules of recitation but rather on the content.

While the presence of a teacher or parent teaching children the proper method of making salah can not be underestimated, many parents find supplemental materials helpful in teaching their children how to make salah. Every year new educational products are being introduced into the Muslim market. Today, Muslim parents have available coloring books, storybooks, developmentally appropriate teaching videotapes, audio tapes, and computer programs to enhance the learning process. Generally children learn new tasks best if teaching material is presented in a variety of formats. The use of such material will only help increase the speed and amount of learning for your child not to mention that it will make the experience more enjoyable.

Lastly, one of the most important aspects of successful teaching is praise and encouragement. Remember that children like to please their parents. Also, it is really important that parents praise and celebrate their children’s accomplishments. This is especially true for learning how to make salah. After the mastery of a section, children typically feel a strong sense of achievement. Praise motivates the child to continue to learn and accomplish new goals.

First published in Al-Jumuah magazine.

Via: http://www.muslimmums.co.za/category/general/spirituality/

There are many ways to Jannah… its our duty to know them so that we may choose the correct paths the way Allah wants us to follow… May Allah AlHayyul Kayyum guide all of us with His hidayah…

1. First and foremost.. stay away from shirk… we need to know what is shirk and how it leads us to shirk… so that we may be on-guard not to fall into this category.. knowingly or out of ignorance… since ignorance is the root to all evil.. thats why it is our duty to seek knowledge.. know the ahadith very well… thats why it is important for us to follow the sunnah of Rasulullah saws.. one who refuses to follow Him.. is not part of his Ummah… if we refuse to follow his examples… tell me… whose example should we follow…

2. Love Allah and His Messenger as your first priority… hold on to the rope of Allah, ie follow the Quran and sunnah of His Rasul saws … and do everything for the sake of Allah only…

3. Love and hate for the sake of Allah… make it a point to love and hate for the sake of Allah AlHayyul Kayyum.. Azza wa Jal.. whatever He forbades and hates… stay away from it … what Allah loves and what is halal .. take it.. what Allah hates… dont do it…. like arrogance, envy, injustice, etc…

4. Have faith in Allah… iman is faith… our faith can increase or decreace depending on the situation… eg… most of our faith will increase during month of Ramadhan… iman must come with amal soleh.. without amal soleh there will be no iman… Allah stress this statement more than one hundred times in the Holy Quran… Iman must come with amal soleh… so keep our iman high on the agenda… do check our faith daily… before sleeping… think what i have done today to please Allah..

5. Memorize all the Attributes/Names of Allah… and their meanings.. Allah promises us Jannah if we can do it… the most grandest/majestic of all the names is Allah AlHayyum Kayyum.. use this attributes in your doa.. and He will InshaAllah grant your good request…6. Safe-guard our mouth and private part… Allah promises Jannah if we can avoid making fitnah, backbiting, lying etc and avoid zina and fornication…

7. Get rid of arrogance, envy and injustice… these are diseases of the heart… if we are arrogant we will be lowering our status same as iblis… because of his arrogance that led him to be disobedient to Allah…. in the hereafter Allah will make these arrogant people as small as the ant, people would step and trampled on them…

8. Be always thankful to Allah… those who dont thank the people… dont thank Allah… and never curse on food, the weather and time… these are from Allah… always be thankful…

9. Be khushuq in our prayer… one who takes a complete wudhu and pray with khushuq is better than one who prayed hundred times without khushuq… pray as though it is our last prayer… always remember death as it will soften our heart… and death can come at any moment…. and remember, the moment we are born… the process of dying begins… its getting nearer every day… not further away… remember… death is not the end but a beginning of a new life…
Rasulullah saws said….our average life is between 60 to 70… if we live above 60, its a bonus from Allah… thank Allah every day for His Mercy….

10. Be kind to all human beings and animals and avoid anger… maintain your kindness and humbleness at all times, to all the people and in any situation…

11. Pray to Allah for hidayah/guidance always… Allah has said Those whom I guide… no one can misguide.. and to those whom I misguide… no one can guide… always pray for Allahs guidance… we have limited access to our brain, our sub-councious mind is controlled by Allah… that is why you cannot control your dream… offcourse the dream has connection with what you think and do.. but the actual dream itself is from Allah… that is why when you pray… your mind is always wandering somewhere else…

12. It is compulsory for us to seek knowledge of our deen… and to spread the message of Islam… and if you can convert a non-Muslim to Islam… Allah promises Jannah for you… we can give them Islamic books to open their hearts… even pay zakat to them… and show our kindness to them as an examplary Muslim…

13. Say… surely… my prayer, my sacrifice, my life and my death is only for You Allah, Sustainer of the worlds…

14. Be a practicing Muslim… worship Allah with all honesty and sincerety… fear Allah as He sees us every second… we can enter Jannah only with the Mercy of Allah… it is not from our ibadah… but from the Mercy of Allah…

15. Before going to sleep… dont keep any grudges and forgive all the people… because to err is human and to forgive is divine…

EVERY GOOD DEED IS A CHARITY….

WHEN THE HEART IS CORRUPT..
THE WHOLE BODY WILL BE CORRUPTED.

TO HAVE GOOD RELATION WITH ALLAH IS IMPORTANT…
KNOWING HOW TO ACHIEVE THAT IS MORE IMPORTANT…

from MuslimWritings

Why are you angry?

Are you angry at someone?

Has someone harmed you, betrayed you, used you for his/her own ends? Has someone cheated you, stolen from you, caused you to lose your job or property? Has someone you love been killed? Go make salat.

Are you angry at yourself?

Are you angry at yourself because of something you did or didn’t do, said or shouldn’t have said? Have you harmed yourself or someone else because of foolishness, laziness, negligence, incompetence or apathy? Go make salat.

Are you angry at Allah?

Because someone has died or is suffering? Because of a divorce, a loss of property, friends or family? Because when you try to do the right thing something bad happens? Because you followed all the rules, but ended up with nothing? Because there’s just too much pain? Go make salat.

Go pray two rakats. Go pray two more rakats. Now go pray two more rakats. Tell everything to Allah inside of the salat. All the way from beginnning through rukuh and sajdah. Keep making salat until the emotion starts to move inside of you. Then pray again, and continue talking to Allah. Maybe other emotions will come–grief or shame or despair. Maybe even more anger. Keep praying. Pray again until all the emotions start to overwhelm you.

Pray until you cry. Pray while you cry. Pray while you cry and are helpless before Allah. Pray not for what you want, but for what you need–forgiveness, relief, mercy, understanding, justice, strength, physical or spirtual healing for yourself or for others–pray for any kind of help, anything at all. Now is the time to ask.

When you’re angry, make salat.

And put your trust on the Exalted in Might, the Merciful,
Who sees you standing forth in prayer,
And your movements among those who prostrate themselves,
For it is He Who hears and knows all things. (Quran 26:217-220)

“And seek help in patience and prayer…” [al-Baqarah: 45]

Sayyid Qutb, rahimahullah, said:

“The weak, short-lived, limited human being must connect himself to the Greater Power, in order that he draw assistance from Him when the strength he requires exceeds that which is in his limited capacity, and when he faces both the open and hidden forces of evil, and when it becomes too difficult for him to remain firm upon the path of repelling his desires and stinginess, and when it becomes too difficult for him to struggle against tyranny and evil when they become violent, and when the road becomes too long, and when the hardships extend throughout his limited lifespan – and he looks to find that he has acheived nothing, while he feels he will be taken away soon; he has given nothing, and the sun of his life is about to set – and when he looks to find that evil is powerful, good is powerless, and there is no glimmer in the sky, and no milestone upon the path.

Here, the value of the prayer is realized.

It is the direct connection between the perishable human being and the Everlasting Power. It is the chosen, appointed time for the meeting between an isolated droplet and the fountain that never ceases gushing forth. It is the key to the treasure that fulfills, satisfies, and is overflowing. It is a transition from the limits of the puny worldly reality to the vast dimension of the universal reality. It is the refreshing breeze and shade in the midst of repressive heat. It is the touch of concern and protection for the exhausted heart. Because of this, the Messenger of Allah, when he was in a situation of hardship, would say: “Relax us with it, O Bilal,” and would increase in his prayer when he was afflicted with an overwhelming affair.

Verily, this Islamic manhaj is one of worship, and worship contains many secrets. From these secrets is that it serves as provision for the journey, a gift for the soul, and a polish for the heart. Wherever there is hardship and burden, there is worship to serve as the key to the heart, to help it taste these burdens and hardships as being sweetened, filtered, and light.”

['Fi Dhilal al-Qur'an'; 1/142]

from Khalid Baig’s website

“There are men who say, ‘Our Lord! Give us (Your bounties) in this world.’ But they will have no portion in the Hereafter. And there are men who say, ‘Our Lord! Give unto us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the torment of the Fire.’ To these will be allotted what they have earned. And Allah is swift at reckoning” [Al-Baqarah 2:200-202].

“Prayer is the essence of worship.” [Hadith].

Prayer is communication with God. Everyone who believes in God also prays. But “how” and “for what” of prayer depend upon one’s concept of God and outlook on life. The pagans of Arabia used to pray as the above verses mention. According to a recent Newsweek survey report, a great majority of Americans also pray, many of them daily. They pray for health, safety, love, and for relief of a “Job-like list of human miseries.” Guidance to the Straight Path, protection from Hell and success in the Hereafter are not mentioned.

What is even more intriguing is the language of the Western discourse about prayer. In Western literature God is depicted as a wise old man in the sky and prayers appear to be petitions for solution of problems that it is His “duty” to solve. According to the Newsweek poll “85 percent of Americans say they accept God’s failure to grant their prayers.” God’s failure? They debate: “Is God unjust or He only appears that way?” Others, like Carl Sagan, who died last year holding firm to his unbelief, ask: “Does God need to be reminded that someone is sick?”

This is several notches below the level of the pagans of Arabia. At work here is the arrogance of achievements in science and technology. In fact in one case the scientists are conducting an “experiment” to determine the usefulness of prayer. At the Arthritis Treatment Center in Florida, one group of patients will additionally receive healing prayers through the Christian Healing Ministry, while the other group will only receive medical treatment. By the end of 1997 they will have “scientifically determined” if prayers work!

For a believer this is blasphemy of the highest order. Prayer is not a polite demand for rights. God gave us life, and everything that we possess, without our having any right to it. It is His design and it is with a purpose. Our conditions of health and sickness, our affluence and poverty, our joys and sorrows, our apparent successes and failures, our gains and losses — all of them are just a test.

 

“He created death and life that He may try which of you is best in deed.”[Al-Mulk, 67:2].

Our ultimate success or failure — in the Hereafter– will depend solely on how we acted in the different circumstances that He chose for us. Did we seek His help when we needed help or were we too arrogant to ask? Did we accept His will when things did not turn out our way? Did we show gratitude for His favors or were we proud of our own achievements? And under all circumstance did we follow His commands or were we preoccupied with our demands?

We pray to Him because only He can give. He is not answerable to any authority and everyone is answerable to Him. He has power over everything and none can over-power Him. His knowledge is infinite while ours is infinitesimal compared to His. He is the Lord; we are His slaves. He may grant our prayers here; or He may reward us for it in the hereafter; or He may give us something better than what we asked for. In any case a praying person can never lose for prayer is the highest form of submission to Him. “Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, was the best of mankind because he was the best in submission to Allah,” says Maulana Manzoor Naumani. “Anyone who studies his supplications, cannot but be awestruck with the perfect understanding of our relationship to the Creator reflected by them.”

One of the saddest days in his life came in June 619 CE in his visit to Taif. The pagans of Taif not only mocked his invitation to believe in the one true God, they also sent their urchins to throw stones at him till his shoes filled with blood. In great distress the Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, turned to Allah: “O Allah, unto You do I complain of my weakness, of my helplessness, and of my lowliness before men. O Most Merciful of the merciful, You are Lord of the weak. And You are my Lord. Into whose hands will You entrust me? Unto some stranger who will ill-treat me? Or unto an enemy who dominates me? If You are not angry with me then I don’t care, but Your favoring help will be easier for me. I take refuge in the light of Your Countenance whereby all darknesses are illuminated and the things of this world and the next are rightly ordered, lest I become the object of Your wrath and anger. To You alone belongs the right to blame and to chastise until Your pleasure is met. There is no power and no might except through You.” Moving words!

Thirteen years later the situation had changed completely. All of Arabia had come under the domination of Islam. Paganism had been totally defeated. At the Farewell Pilgrimage about 124,000 companions gathered to perform Hajj with the Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam. And there in the plains of Arafat this was his prayer: ” O Allah! You hear me and see me and know everything that I reveal or conceal. None of my affairs is hidden from You. I am a person in distress, a needy person, a beggar, a fearful person. I confess my shortcomings. I entreat You like a humble needy person. I beseech You like a sinful lowly person. I ask You like a person in tribulation whose neck bows before You; who cries in front of You; whose whole body trembles before You. O Allah! Do not leave me frustrated in my prayer and be the Most Merciful and the Most Gracious to me. O the best of those who are beseeched. O the best of those who give.” Sublime words!

In the best of times, in the worst of times, Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, was the same servant of Allah. His supplications remain a living miracle inviting all open-minded people to reflect upon the source of that level of consciousness of Allah.

For this Ummah, his prayers are one of his greatest spiritual gifts. How unfortunate that any of his followers should remain unlearnt about them.

COMMON MISTAKES MADE IN SALAAH

Common Errors in Prayer That MUST Be Avoided:-
1. Reciting Surat al-Fatiha fast without pausing after each verse. The Prophet (SAW) used to pause after each verse of this Surah. (Abu Dawood)

2. Sticking the arms to the sides of the body, in Rukoo’ or Sujood, and sticking the belly to the thighs in Sujood.

The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “Let not one of you support himself on his forearms (in Sujood) like the dog. Let him rest on his palms and keep his elbows away from his body.” (Sahih Muslim)

The Messenger of Allah (SAW) used to keep his arms away from his body during Rukoo’ and Sujood that the whiteness of his armpits could be seen (Sahih Muslim).
THIS IS ONLY FOR MEN ACCORDING TO IMAAM ABU HANIFAH (RA) WALLAHUAALAM.

3. Gazing upward during prayer. This may cause loss of concentration. We are commanded to lower our gaze, and look at the point at which the head rests during Sujood.

The Prophet (SAW) warned: “Let those who raise their gaze up during prayer stop doing so, or else their sights would not return to them. [I.e. lose their eyesight].” (Muslim)

4. Resting only the tip of the head on the floor during Sujood. The Prophet (SAW) said: “I am commanded to prostrate on seven bones ie. the forehead and the nose, the two hands [palms], the two knees, and the two feet.” (Sahih Muslim)
Applying the above command necessitates resting the forehead and the nose on the ground during Sujood.

5. Hasty performance of prayer which does not allow repose and calmness inRukoo’ or Sujood.

The Messenger of Allah (SAW) saw a man who did not complete his Rukoo’ [bowing], and made a very short Sujood [prostration]; he (SAW) said: “If this man dies while praying in this manner, he would die upholding a religion other than the religion of Muhammad.”

Abu Hurayrah (RA) said: “My beloved friend, Muhammad (SAW) forbade me to perform postures of prayer copying the picking of a rooster; (signifying fast performance of prayer), moving eyes around like a fox and the sitting like monkeys (i.e. to sit on thighs).” (Imam Ahmad & at-Tayalisi)

The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “The worst thief is the one who steals from his own prayer.” People asked, ‘Messenger of Allah! How could one steal from his own prayer?’ He (SAW) said: “By not completing its Rukoo’ and Sujood.”(At-Tabarani & al-Hakim).

To complete Rukoo’ is to stay in that posture long enough to recite ‘subhana rabbiyal Adtheem’ three times, SLOWLY, and ‘subhana rabbiyal-a’ala’ three times, SLOWLY, in Sujood.

He (SAW) also announced: “He who does not complete his Rukoo’ and Sujood, his prayer is void.” (Abu Dawood & others)

6. Counting Tasbeeh with the left hand The Prophet (SAW) used to count Tasbeeh on the fingers of his right hand after Salaah.

lbn Qudamah (RA) said: “The Messenger of Allah (SAW) used his right hand for Tasbeeh.” (Abu Dawud)

The above Hadeeth indicates clearly that the Prophet (SAW) used only one hand for counting Tasbeeh. No Muslim with sound mind would imagine that the
Prophet (SAW) used his left hand for counting Tasbeeh. A’ishah (RA) said that the Prophet (SAW) used his left hand only for Istinjaa’, or cleaning himself after responding to the call of nature. He never used it for Tasbeeh.

Yasirah (RA) reported:” The Prophet (SAW) commanded women to count Tasbeeh on their fingers.

The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “They (the fingers) will be made to speak, and will be questioned (on the Day of Resurrection.)” (At-Tirmithi)

The above Hadeeth indicates that it is preferable to count Tasbeeh on the fingers of the right hand than to do so on Masbahah (rosary; beeds).

7. Crossing in front of a praying person.
The Messenger of Allah (SAW) warned: “Were the one who crosses in front of a praying person to know the consequences of doing so, he would have waited for *forty better than to cross in front of him.” (Sahih Bukhari and Muslim).*The forty in the tradition may be days months or even years.

And, Allah knows best

One of the highlights on any of my trips abroad is to pray in various masjid’s. In all cases, the same feeling of tranquility and peacefulness overtakes the usual stress of traveling abroad. On my last 2 trips I took photo’s of the various Masjids.

This one, Masjid Al Falah, located just off the popular Orchad Road in the heart of Singapore (on Cairnhill Road no. 15) Check out their website to learn more about Masjid Al Falah

Readers, if you’d like your Masjid featured, please do mail me photographs and I will publish.

Pictures below,

[Show as slideshow]

I got this via email many months ago, watch it with your volume raised up. I’m sure we can ALL identify with the fact that many a time we’r so engrossed in our day to day work (especially ones who work on PC’s) – Its so easy to simply let Salaah time pass us by.

A well directed & truly shocking video depicting death & the burial.

[wp_youtube]SYjxzQ3PE9I[/wp_youtube]

REMOVE THOSE OLD-STAINS OF SINS WITH SALAATUT TASBEEH
THE VIRTUES OF SALAATUT TASBEEH
Salaatut Tasbeeh is a very important form of salaah, as is evident from several ahaadith, wherein Rasulullah ( enjoined it as a matter of great kindness and favour and stressed on its importance. As such, the Ulamaa, Jurists, Muhadditheen, and Sufis throughout the centuries have been particular in offering this Salaah. Sayyiduna Abdullah Ibn Abbaas ( has narrated that he was once informed by Rasulullah (, ”O Abbaas, Should I not present to you, should I not confer to you, should I not inform you of such an act, which if you practice, 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 salaah) Nabi ( stated, ”If possible, you should offer this salaah once everyday, and if you cannot perform it daily, then offer it on every Friday (weekly), or once a month, or once a year or at least once in your lifetime.” [Abu Daawud]

THE STATUS AND IMPORTANCE OF SALAATUT TASBEEH
Imaam Al-Haakim (R.A) who is an authority on hadith, has written, ”The authenticity of this hadeeth (of salaatut tasbeeh) is supported by the fact that, since the second generation after the Sahabah ( until our times, all the great teachers of religion have been offering this salaah with constancy and have been advising the people to do so, among them was Imaam Abdullah Ibn Mubaarak (R.A) [He was the teacher of the teachers of Imaam Bukhari (R.A)]” [Al Mustadrak Haakim - vol.1, pg.318] ; Imaam Al-Baihaqi (R.A) has stated that, even before Ibn Mubaarak (R.A), Imaam Abul Jauzaa (R.A), a Taabi’ee (one who had seen the Sahabah () and whose narrations are considered to be reliable, used to be very particular in offering this salaah daily. As soon as he heard the azaan for the Zuhr Salaah, he would go to the musjid and would complete this Salaah before the Zuhr Salaah. Imaam Abdul Aziz Ibn Abi Rawwaad (R.A) who was the teacher of Ibn Mubaarak (R.A) and who was a great devotee, saint and pious man, has stated, ”One who desires to attain Jannah should be constant in offering Salaatut Tasbeeh.” Allamah Taqi Ud-Deen Al-Subki (R.A) stated, “This salaah is very important, and one should not get misled if some people happen to deny its importance. The one, who ignores it even after learning about its reward, is negligent in religious matters, fails to act like virtuous people, and should not be considered as a reliable person.” It is stated in Mirqaat that Sayyiduna Abdullah Ibn Abbaas ( used to offer this Salaah every Friday. [Fadhaail A'amaal, Virtues of Zikr - Pg.244] This salaah is preferable to be performed on all those auspicious nights where extra ibaadat (worship) are encouraged e.g. The 15th Night of Shabaan, The nights of Ramadhaan etc.

[NOTE: The Authenticity of Salaatut Tasbeeh has been affirmed by the muhadditheen. Many of them have written detailed articles on this matter. Allaamah al-Suyyuti (RA) has enumerated up to 20 great muhadditheen who have accepted its authenticity]. [Al-Laalil Masnoo'ah-vol.2, pg.40]. According to the principles of hadeeth, this hadith falls at least in the category of Hasan Ahadith.

THE METHOD OF PERFORMING SALAATUT TASBEEH
Imaam Abdullah Ibn Mubaarak (R.A) and many other ulama narrate the following method of offering this salaah. (This method is also reported from Rasulullah ( and is the preferred method of performing this salaah).

“After reciting thanaa and before reciting Surah Faatihah repeat these words (the third Kalimah) ‘Subhaanallaahi Walhamdulillaahi, Wa laa ilaaha illallaahu Wallaahu Akbar’
fifteen times.
Then start with ‘a’oodhu’ and ‘Bismillaah’ and, after completing Surah Faatihah and another surah, these words (above mentioned) should be repeated ten times before the ruku, ten times during the ruku, ten times after standing up from the ruku, ten times in each sajdah and ten times while sitting between the two sajdahs. All four rakaats should be performed in this manner, thus completing seventy five times (tasbeehs) in each rakaat and 300 times (tasbeehs) in four rakaats.” [Sunan Tirmizi - vol.2, pg.348]

FYI: The meaning of:
‘Subhaanallaahi Walhamdulillaahi, Wa laa ilaaha illallaahu Wallaahu Akbar’

Glory Be to Allah & all praise be to Allah. There is none worthy of worship besides Allah. And Allah is the Greatest

TABLE OF PERFORMING SALAATUT TASBEEH ACCORDING TO THE METHOD OF IMAM ABDULLAH IBN MUBARAK (R.A)

- 15 BEFORE SURAH FAATIHA
- 10 TIMES BEFORE RUKU
- 10 TIMES DURING RUKU
- 10 TIMES WHILE STANDING – AFTER RISING FROM THE RUKU
- 10 TMES IN THE FIRST SAJDAH
- 10 TIMES SITTING POSTURE – BETWEEN BOTH SAJDAS
- 10 TIMES IN THE SECOND SAJDAH
Thus counting 75 times in each Rakaah,with 4 Rakaah equalling 300 times.

There are no particular surahs specified for this salaah. Any surah may be recited. However Sayyiduna Ibn Abbaas ( was once asked, ”Are there any particular surahs to be recited in this salaah? He replied, ‘At takaasur (S.102), Al Asr (S.103), Al Kaafiroon (S.109) and Al Ikhlaas (S.112).” Some Ulamaa have also stated, ”The most virtuous surahs (to be recited in this salaah) are Al Hadeed (S.57), Al Hashar (S.59), As Saff (S.61) and At Taghaabun (S.64).” [Raddul Muhtaar - vol.2, pg.461]

SOME IMPORTANT POINTS TO KEEP IN MIND
1. Counting should not be done verbally as this act nullifies the salaah. The best way is that the fingers should be kept in their position, but should be pressed one by one for counting. [Raddul Muhtaar - vol.2, pg.236; Fadhaail A'amaal, Virtues of Zikr - Pg.244]

2. This Salaah can be offered at any time of the day or night besides the three forbidden times. However, the more appropriate times, in order of preference, are: After midday, any time during the day, and any time during the night. [Fadhaail A'amaal, Virtues of Zikr - Pg.245]

3. According to some ahaadith, the third Kalimah should also be followed by ‘Laa hawla walaa quwwata illaa billaahil aliyyil adheem’ It is therefore better to recite it sometimes in addition to the third Kalimah.” [Ihyaa Ulummuddeen - vol.2, pg.267]

4. In the ruku, ‘subhaana rabbiyal adheem’ and in the sajdah, ‘subhaana rabbiyal a’alaa’ should be recited before reciting the third kalimah.” [At Tarsheeh, Libayaani Salaatit Tasbeeh - pg.22]

5. If one missed out all the tasbeehaat or some tasbeehaat in any posture, he should not make up for that deficiency in qaumah (after ruku in the standing posture) or in jalsah (after the first sajdah before the second sajdah).

PRACTICE AND CONVEY THIS GIFT GRANTED TO US BY RASULULLAH

CERTIFIED BY: Mufti Ebrahim Desai, Darul Ifta (Fatwa Department), Camperdown.
COMPILED BY: A student [2nd year aalim class] of Madrasah In’aamiyyah, Camperdown,
Special message by Mufti Desai: Please forward this to many people as possible. If you want to print this article and circulate, you may contact the Darul Ifta for an original copy with the Arabic. Every person that praises Allah, you will have a share in the reward, Insha Allah.