How to Perform Salat al-Tasbeeh: Step-by-Step Guide

A Prayer You Have Probably Heard Of But Never Tried

You may have seen it mentioned in a khutbah, read about it online, or heard a family member say they prayed it during Ramadan. Salat al-Tasbeeh — the prayer of glorification — has a reputation for being complex, hard to count, or something only scholars do.

None of that is true.

Yes, the counting takes focus. But once you understand the structure, it becomes one of the most meditative and spiritually rewarding prayers in the Sunnah. The Prophet ﷺ himself taught it to his uncle Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib and said it would be a means of forgiveness for past and future sins (Sunan Abu Dawud 1297). That is not a prayer you want to leave on the shelf indefinitely.

This guide will walk you through every step — clearly, with the full tasbeeh count — so you can pray it today.

Why This Prayer Matters

The hadith narrated by Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) records that the Prophet ﷺ told Abbas:

"O Abbas, O uncle, shall I not give you something, shall I not present you with something, shall I not offer you something? If you do this, Allah will forgive your sins, the first of them and the last, the old and the new, the unintentional and the intentional, the small and the great, the secret and the open." — (Sunan Abu Dawud 1297, authenticated by Imam al-Nawawi)

The name tasbeeh (تَسْبِيح) comes from subhanallah (سُبْحَانَ اللَّهُ), meaning "Glory be to Allah" — the act of exalting Allah above all imperfection. Allah says in the Quran:

تُسَبِّحُ لَهُ السَّمَاوَاتُ السَّبْعُ وَالْأَرْضُ وَمَن فِيهِنَّ ۚ وَإِن مِّن شَيْءٍ إِلَّا يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِهِ

"The seven heavens and the earth and all that is therein praise Him, and there is not a thing but glorifies His praise." — (Surah Al-Isra, 17:44)

Salat al-Tasbeeh is an act of joining that universal glorification, 300 times in a single sitting, while also fulfilling the structure of a regular voluntary prayer. It combines the benefits of dhikr and night prayer in a unique way.

This is also why scholars recommend it during especially blessed times — Laylatul Qadr, Fridays, or the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah — though it can be prayed any time voluntary prayers are allowed.

Step-by-Step: How to Perform Salat al-Tasbeeh

Salat al-Tasbeeh consists of 4 rak'ahs. In each rak'ah, you recite the tasbeeh 75 times in specific positions, for a total of 300 glorifications. Pray all 4 rak'ahs with one tasleem at the end (for daytime), or split into two sets of 2 rak'ahs with a tasleem each (for night, following the general sunnah for night prayers).

The tasbeeh to recite is:

سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَلَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ

Subhanallah wal hamdulillah wa la ilaha illallah wallahu akbar

"Glory be to Allah, all praise is for Allah, there is no god but Allah, and Allah is the Greatest."

Rak'ah by Rak'ah Breakdown

1. Opening Takbir Say Allahu Akbar and make your niyyah (intention) for Salat al-Tasbeeh.

2. After Al-Fatihah and your chosen surah — 15 times Recite Surah Al-Fatihah, then any surah (or a portion of a surah). Before going into ruku, recite the tasbeeh 15 times while still standing.

3. In Ruku — 10 times After saying Subhana Rabbiyal Adheem (the regular ruku dhikr), recite the tasbeeh 10 times.

4. After rising from Ruku — 10 times After saying Sami'a Allahu liman hamidah, Rabbana lakal hamd, recite the tasbeeh 10 times while standing upright.

5. In the First Sujood — 10 times After saying Subhana Rabbiyal A'la (the regular sujood dhikr), recite the tasbeeh 10 times.

6. Between the Two Sujoods — 10 times While sitting between the two sujoods, after saying Rabbighfirli, recite the tasbeeh 10 times.

7. In the Second Sujood — 10 times After saying Subhana Rabbiyal A'la, recite the tasbeeh 10 times.

8. Sitting after the Second Sujood (before standing for the next rak'ah) — 10 times Remain seated briefly and recite the tasbeeh 10 times before rising.

Total per rak'ah: 15 + 10 + 10 + 10 + 10 + 10 + 10 = 75

Repeat this for all 4 rak'ahs. After the 4th rak'ah, do the Tashahhud and conclude with tasleem.

Grand total: 75 × 4 = 300 glorifications.

A Note on the Last Rak'ah

In the 4th rak'ah, the 10 glorifications after the second sujood are replaced by sitting for the Tashahhud, Salawat on the Prophet, and tasleem. So you will recite the final 10 glorifications before going into the final sujood, in the sitting between sujoods — just as in the other rak'ahs.

Building the Habit of Salat al-Tasbeeh

The Prophet ﷺ was clear: if you can pray it daily, do so. If not, weekly. If not, monthly. If not, yearly. If not, at least once in your life (Sunan Abu Dawud 1297). This graduated recommendation is itself a gift — it removes the pressure of perfection while keeping the door open.

Here are practical ways to make it a regular practice:

Start with once a month. Pick a specific day — perhaps the first Friday of the month, or the 13th, 14th, and 15th (the ayyam al-beed). Mark it in your calendar. Treat it as an appointment with Allah that has been on your schedule since you read this.

Pair it with a night you already know is blessed. Praying Salat al-Tasbeeh on a laylatul qadr night or during the last ten nights of Ramadan multiplies its spiritual weight. These are nights you are likely already awake and in worship — adding this prayer fits naturally.

Use a physical counter. There is nothing wrong with using misbaha (prayer beads) or a digital counter to keep track. Counting requires concentration, and any tool that helps you maintain accuracy without anxiety is fine. Many Muslims use a finger-counting method — tapping each fingertip in sequence.

Understand what you are saying. The tasbeeh combines four of the most beloved phrases to Allah: subhanallah, alhamdulillah, la ilaha illallah, and Allahu akbar. These are described in hadith as "the best of speech" (Sahih Muslim 2137). When you know the meaning of each, the repetition becomes meditation rather than chore.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Losing count and giving up. If you lose your count, do not abandon the prayer — continue from where you think you are or restart the count for that position. Allah rewards the effort and sincerity, not only the precision. The point is not mathematical perfection but sustained mindfulness of Allah.

Rushing the tasbeeh. Some people rush through the 300 glorifications to "get them done." This defeats the purpose. Say each one with presence. If that means the prayer takes 25 or 30 minutes, that is exactly right.

Skipping the extra sitting after the second sujood. The 10 glorifications recited while seated after the second sujood (before standing to the next rak'ah) are easy to forget because they do not appear in regular prayers. This is the step most often missed. Remember: every rak'ah has 8 positions, not 7.

Treating it as a chore when overwhelmed. If you find yourself dreading it, the issue is usually that you started too ambitiously — trying to pray it daily when weekly would have been sustainable. Drop the frequency, not the prayer. Voluntary sunnah prayers are most effective when you approach them with genuine intention, not obligation.

Common Questions

Do I need wudu for Salat al-Tasbeeh?

Yes. Like all formal prayers, Salat al-Tasbeeh requires ritual purity (wudu). If wudu breaks during the prayer, you must stop, renew wudu, and start again.

Can I use a different tasbeeh phrase?

The standard narration specifies Subhanallah wal hamdulillah wa la ilaha illallah wallahu akbar. Some scholars mention slight variations in different hadith transmissions, but this is the most widely transmitted form and the one you should use.

What if I pray it in 2 sets of 2 rak'ahs?

This is permissible, especially for night prayers. Pray 2 rak'ahs with tasleem, then another 2 rak'ahs with tasleem. The tasbeeh count per rak'ah remains the same — 75 per rak'ah. This mirrors the general qiyamul layl structure.

Is there a specific surah to recite in this prayer?

Some narrations mention specific surahs for specific rak'ahs, but these are not obligatory. You may recite any portion of the Quran you know. Many scholars simply recommend choosing surahs you are comfortable with so your focus stays on the tasbeeh count rather than the recitation.

Closing

Salat al-Tasbeeh is one of those prayers that sounds more complicated than it is. Once you have prayed it even once, the structure becomes intuitive. And the experience — standing before Allah 300 times saying "Glory be to You, all praise is Yours, there is no god but You, and You are the Greatest" — stays with you.

The Prophet ﷺ offered it as a gift to his uncle, and through that narration, to all of us. It is an act of istighfar wrapped in glorification, a reminder that no matter how much we have fallen short, the door of return to Allah is always open — and that this prayer is one of the most beautiful ways to walk through it.

Pray it this week. Even once. See how it changes your day.

Hadith references: Sunan Abu Dawud 1297 | Sunan Ibn Majah 1387

Quran reference: Surah Al-Isra 17:44

External reading on voluntary prayers and dhikr: Deen Back — The Power of Daily Dhikr | Demi Manifest — Building an Islamic Morning Routine