How to Pray Salatul Tasbih (Salat al-Tasbih): Easy Step-by-Step Guide
Salatul Tasbih looks complicated the first time you read about it, four rakats, hundreds of repetitions, counts that change depending on where you are in the prayer. It is actually much simpler than it looks.
Once you know one small trick, you will not need to memorize seven different numbers, just two. Salatul Tasbih benefits are centered on forgiveness, it is prayed as a means of seeking forgiveness for past and future sins.
What Is Salatul Tasbih?
Quick answer: Salatul Tasbih (also written Salat al-Tasbih, Salat ul-Tasbih, or Salat ut-Tasbih) is a four rakat voluntary prayer in which a short glorification phrase is repeated 300 times in total, 75 times in each rakat, across seven fixed points in the prayer. It is a nafl (voluntary) prayer, not one of the five obligatory daily prayers.
The Tasbih You Repeat
سُبْحَانَ اللهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَلَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَاللهُ أَكْبَرُ
Transliteration: Subhan Allahi wal hamdu lillahi wa la ilaha illallahu wallahu akbar
Meaning: Glory is to Allah, all praise is to Allah, there is no god but Allah, and Allah is the greatest.
The Easy Way to Remember the Count
Forget trying to memorize seven different numbers. There is really only one rule.
Say it 15 times first. After that, say it 10 times, at six more points in the rakat. That’s it, 15 once, then 10 six times, which is 75 per rakat and 300 across all four rakats.
| Where You Are | How Many Times |
|---|---|
| Right after Sana (the opening supplication) | 15 |
| After reciting Al-Fatiha and another surah | 10 |
| While bowing (ruku) | 10 |
| After rising from ruku, standing | 10 |
| In the first prostration (sujood) | 10 |
| Sitting up between the two prostrations | 10 |
| In the second prostration (sujood) | 10 |
75 per rakat × 4 rakats = 300 total recitations.
How to Pray Salatul Tasbih, Step by Step
Make Your Intention and Begin
Make your niyyah (niyat), then start the prayer as you normally would, with the opening takbir and Sana. Recite the tasbih 15 times before moving on to Al-Fatiha.
Work Through the Rakat’s Seven Points
Recite Al-Fatiha and a short surah, then say the tasbih 10 times. Repeat it 10 more times in each remaining position, ruku, standing after ruku, first sujood, sitting between the two sujood, and second sujood.
Repeat for All Four Rakats
Stand and do the same for the second rakat, then sit for tashahhud. Pray two more rakats the same way, then finish with tashahhud and salam, exactly like any other prayer.
Made a Mistake in the Count?
If you lose count or forget a set in one position, simply make it up in the next one instead of restarting the prayer. Small counting errors do not invalidate the prayer.
Practice the Count Before You Pray
Since you can’t hold a phone during ruku or sujood, use the free Digital Tasbih counter beforehand to practice the 15-then-10 pattern until it feels automatic. Set a Custom target of 15 or 10 and run through the sequence a few times.
Open the Free Dhikr CounterBest Time to Pray Salatul Tasbih, and How Often
You can pray Salatul Tasbih at almost any time. The only exception is the small window around sunrise and sunset, when prayer in general is disliked. Outside of that, you can pray it whenever suits you, many people choose the time before Dhuhr.
It is commonly prayed once, but different narrations mention praying it daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, or once in a lifetime if that is all a person can manage. There is no obligation to repeat it on a fixed schedule.
Is Salatul Tasbih Authentic?
Scholars have genuinely differed on this for centuries, and it is worth knowing that going in. Hadith scholars such as al-Tirmidhi, Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, and al-Albani considered the narration authentic or supported by multiple chains, and the Hanafi and Shafi’i schools regard the prayer as recommended.
Others, including Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn Qudamah, viewed the report as weak or unestablished. This is a recognized area of scholarly difference rather than a settled ruling, so if you want certainty for your own practice, it is best to ask a scholar from your own school of thought.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many rakats is Salatul Tasbih?
Four rakats, usually prayed as two sets of two, with tashahhud after the second and fourth rakat, the same structure as a normal four rakat prayer.
How many times do you say the tasbih in total?
300 times across the whole prayer, 75 times in each of the four rakats, following the 15-then-10-six-times pattern.
Can I pray Salatul Tasbih anytime?
Yes, any time outside the few periods when prayer is disliked, around sunrise and sunset. Many people pray it before Dhuhr, but there is no fixed requirement.
What if I lose count during the prayer?
Make up the missed repetitions in the next position instead of starting over. A small counting slip does not invalidate the prayer.
Is Salatul Tasbih sunnah or considered an innovation?
Scholars are divided. Some hadith scholars and the Hanafi and Shafi’i schools consider it recommended, while others viewed the supporting narration as weak. It is a genuine area of scholarly difference, so ask a scholar from your own school if you want a definitive answer.
Do the Hanafi and Shafi’i methods differ?
The overall 15-then-10-six-times structure and 75-per-rakat total is agreed upon. Minor differences in the exact wording of surrounding supplications exist between schools, so it is worth confirming the specifics with your own school if you follow one closely.
How often should I pray Salatul Tasbih?
There is no fixed schedule. Narrations mention praying it daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, or once in a lifetime, so it is flexible based on what a person can realistically commit to.
Can I use a digital counter during the prayer itself?
Not practically, since your hands are occupied during ruku and sujood. It is more useful to practice the 15-then-10 pattern with a digital counter beforehand until you can keep count naturally during the prayer.
Want to practice the counting pattern first? Open the free Digital Tasbih counter and run through 15, then 10, a few times before you pray. For your everyday dhikr after salah, see our guide on making dhikr a daily habit.