THE GREATEST FORM OF REPENTANCE: TASBĪH SALĀH

Tasbīh Salāh is the highest form of Tawbah (repentance) and Istighfār (asking for forgiveness) that is carried out with the entire body.
Rasūlullāh (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) once said to his uncle Abbās (raḍiyallāhu ‘anhu) concerning Tasbīh Salāh: “O, uncle! Let me gift you by describing to you something which will erase 10 types of sin, when you do so, the first and last, new and old, intentional or unintentional, major or minor, secret or open of your sins will be forgiven. You pray four rak‘ah salāh. If you can, pray this salāh every day. If you cannot pray it every day, then every week, if not every week, then at least once a month. If you cannot do so, then at least once a year, if you cannot do so, then once in your lifetime, pray this salāh.” Tasbīh Salāh consists of four rak‘ahs, in which the following tasbīh (glorification of Allāh) is recited 300 times: “Subḥānallāhi wal-ḥamdu lillāhi, wa lā ilāha illallāhu wallāhu Akbar, wa lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata, illā billāhi’l-‘aliyyil-aẓīm.”
This tasbīh is recited:
- 15 times after thanā (the supplication of Subḥānaka), (before Sūrah al-Fātihah),
- 10 times after the additional Sūrah,
- 10 times while in the position of rukū‘ (after the
   normal tasbīh)
- 10 times in the standing position
after arising from rukū‘ (qawmah),
- 10 times in the first sajdah (after the normal tasbīh),
- 10 times in the short sitting between
   the first and second sajdah (jalsah),
- 10 times in the second sajdah (after the normal tasbīh),
Thus, the total number of the tasbīh in the first rak‘ah is 75. The number and order of the tasbīh is the same in the second, third and fourth rak‘ahs. In the first qā‘dah (sitting) after tahiyyāt, Salātu Ibrahimiyyah [Allāhumma Ṣallī, Allāhumma Bārik] should be recited. When standing for the third rak‘ah ‘Subḥānaka’ should be recited. The performance of Tasbīh Salāh is highly recommended. It is praiseworthy to form a habit of performing it. It is better to pray it individually. However, it can also be performed in jamā‘ah (congregation) so that those who do not know about its performance can benefit from it.