I was use to pray Salat al-Tasbeeh but now some one has informed me that some scholars (even in Saudi Arabia) say that it was not a confirmed Sunnah I would like to know if reading Salat al-Tasbeeh is right?

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Muslim scholars are of two opinions about the ruling of Tasbeeh Prayer.

First: It is desirable. Second: It is not permissible.

The reason for this disagreement is their differences regarding the authenticity of the Hadeeth on this matter.

The majority of the known scholars of Hadeeth are of the view that the Hadeeth is sound. So, they are of the opinion that offering Tasbeeh Prayer is desirable. Those scholars who hold this opinion are al-Daaraqutni, al-Khateeb al-Baghdaadi, and Abu Moosa al-Madani – these scholars also wrote a booklet on this subject – Abu Bakr ibn Abu Daawood, al-Haakim, as-Suyooti, al-Hafidh Ibn Hajar, Al-Albaani and others.

On the other hand, those who are of the view that the above Hadeeth is weak or fabricated issue a decree that Tasbeeh Prayer should not be performed. Ibn al-Jawzi, Sirajuddin al-Qazweeni, Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, Imam Ahmad, and others are among those scholars who hold the later opinion.

Hafidh Ibn Hajar narrated that Imam Ahmad changed his opinion concerning the weakness of this Hadeeth. ‘Ali ibn Sa’eed an-Nasaa-i said: “I asked Imam Ahmad about the Tasbeeh Prayer and he replied: 'I do not have any authentic Hadeeth in this concern'. Then ‘Ali narrated the Hadeeth from al-Mustamir ibn ar-Rayyan from Abu al-Jawza from ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amar. Imam Ahmad asked who narrated to you? ‘Ali said: Muslim ibn Ibraheem. He said: “Al-Mustamir (a narrator of this Hadeeth) is trustworthy.” It seems that Imam Ahmad was pleased with this Hadeeth. This narration proves that he changed his opinion and inclined to its desirability.

Finally, the preponderant opinion is that this Hadeeth through many chains reaches the degree of authenticity. Therefore, offering the Tasbeeh Prayer is Sunnah.

For more benefit on the Tasabeeh Prayer, please refer to Fatwa 83600.

Allah knows best.