Assalaamu Alaikum Brothers. I would like to know whether offering Salaatul Shukr (2 or 4 units nafil without any specific surahs or predetermined tasbeeh) is allowed as per shariah or not? I am aware that prophet (S.A.W) used to prostrate (Sajdah) and thank ALLAH whenever he received any good news or the like. But is there any proof that he offered complete salaah? What is the opinion of majority of scholars on offering salaah thanking ALLAH for the blessing we received? Also how about offering 2 units of prayer for thanks on a DAILY BASIS for eeman which ALLAH gave us without asking for it or any other specific ability which ALLAH blesses any person? Say for example a Qari with good voice offering prayer of thankfulness on a daily basis. JAZAKALLAH

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

Sajdat Ash-Shukr (prostration for thankfulness) is something permissible for the one to whom a blessing occurs as it was authentically proved from the actions of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and a large number of the Companions . Some scholars are of the opinion that it is permissible to offer prayer instead of prostrating because the aim behind prostration will be attained by prayer. Muhammad ibn Nasr Al-Marwazi said: "As for praying and prostrating whenever a new blessing is obtained as a form of being thankful to Allaah The Almighty, then amongst the proofs of this is that when Allaah The Almighty blessed his Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, with the conquest of Makkah, he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, washed and offered eight Rak‘ahs to Allaah out of thankfulness." [End quote]

Nevertheless, many scholars hold the opinion that what is legislated when a new blessing is obtained is the prostration of thankfulness, not the prayer of thankfulness. As for the prayer that the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, offered in the house of Umm Haani' on the day of the Conquest (of Makkah), it was the Dhuha (forenoon prayer) as Umm Haani' herself pointed out in the narration of Imaam Muslim and she is the one who narrated the Hadeeth and thus knows its circumstances best.

It was mentioned in the Fataawa of Noor 'Ala Ad-Darb that Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said: "Thankfulness has no prayer of bowing and standing, but it is only prostration. So, if Allaah The Almighty granted someone a new blessing such as if one is rescued from some trial, gets what he earnestly sought or receives guidance from Allaah The Almighty or makes repentance and he prostrates to Allaah The Almighty out of thankfulness, then this is something legislated as Ka‘ab ibn Maalik did when he was given the glad tidings that Allaah The Almighty accepted his repentance." 

Now that it becomes clear to you that there is no special prayer for thankfulness, you should know that it is not legislated to offer it with the intention of thankfulness, let alone offering it on a daily basis. It was stated in the Fataawa of Shaykh ‘Abdul Azeez Aal Ash-Shaykh, the Mufti of the KSA, regarding offering the prayer for thankfulness every day: "Repeating it every day is something baseless; however, it is permissible to prostrate when a new blessing is obtained or when a calamity is averted. As for your intention to pray two Rak‘ahs to Allaah every day out of thankfulness when a blessing is obtained, it is a baseless act. As for offering two Rak‘ahs regularly, claiming that it is a prayer of thankfulness, it is also something baseless, in the same way making prostration continuously is something baseless." [End quote]

Allaah Knows best.