A Powerful Supplication (Tasbih)
Saying 'Allahu Akbar' - 34 times, 'Alhamdulillah' - 33 times and 'Subhanallah' - 33 times.
Saying 'Allahu Akbar' - 34 times, 'Alhamdulillah' - 33 times and 'Subhanallah' - 33 times.
The Tasbih of Fatimah (Arabic: تَسْبِيح فَاطِمَة), commonly known as "Tasbih al-Zahra" (Arabic: تَسْبِيح ), is a special kind of Dhikr which is attributed to Syeda Fatema Zehra (peace be upon her) beloved Daughter of the Holy Prophet(Peace be upon him and his family) It consists of saying following
34 Repitions of;
33 Repitions of
33 Repitions of
Imam Jafar Sadiq(as) in Behaarul Anwaar Vol 85, Pg. 334)
It is a recomended tradition to say the following statement after Tasbih al-Zahra':
Background: According to anarration from Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib ( as), the Holy Prophet(saws) taught this dhikr (Tasbih of Fatimah) to his daughter Fatimah(sa). According to this narration Fatimah(sa), who was tired due to daily routine, intended to ask her father for a servant to perform chores. Her father (Muhammad) heard of what she had to say, and so he went to her house, and sat with her, then said, "May I not direct you to something better than what you have asked for?" He then taught her the mentioned tasbih, and said that it would be better for them than a servant; hence Fatimah was pleased with it.[8]
Merits of 'Tasbih' of Syeda Fatema Zehra (a.s)
The Tasbeeh of Hazrat Fatima Zahra (s.a.) is from the emphatically recommended acts of worship in the Islamic Shariat. It has immense significance in the eyes of the Infallible Imams (a.s.) and the Shiite jurists. It is a simple ,short yet very powerful act of worship from the aspect of performance; its effect, reward and merit are abundant. This can be gauged from the fact that when the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) wished to impart this act of worship to his daughter Lady Zahra (s.a.), he declared, ‘O Fatima! I have granted you something that is superior to a maidservant and to the world and everything in it.’(Aasaar o Asraare Tasbeehe Zahra (s.a.) , Pg. 7)
Etiquettes
i)Observation of number and sequence:
first, Allah Akbar (God is the greatest) for 34 times, then, al-Hamd li Allah (Praise be to God) for 33 times, and Subhan Allah (Glory be to God) for 33 times;
ii)Presence of heart;
iii)Saying the Tasbih immediately after daily prayers without doing anything else or changing the posture;
iv)No gaps or pauses should interrupt the Tasbih.
Re Reciting Tasbeeh immediately after Salat
Tasbeeh of Hazrat Zahra (s.a.) should be recited immediately on completion of Namaz. This entails that as soon as the reciter has finished the Namaz, he should remain seated in the same position of Tashahud without moving his feet and doing any other thing, immediately he should commence the recitation of the Tasbeeh. The reciting of Tasbeeh immediately on completion of Namaz has a special excellence, which is not there otherwise.
The above statement can be evidenced by the following tradition of Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) wherein he states: “One who recites the Tasbeeh of Hazrat Zahra (s.a.) before even moving his feet, Allah will forgive him..” (At-Tahzeeb of Shaikh Toosi (r.a.) , Vol 2, Pg. 105) Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) has said :
“One who recites the Tasbeeh of Hazrat Zahra (s.a.) after a wajib namaz before he stretches out his legs ( i.e. he recites the Tasbeeh while he is in the posture of Tashahud) , then Jannat becomes wajib upon him”
(Falaahus Saael by Ibne Taaoos (r.a.), Pg. 165)
Another tradition from Imam Sadiq (a.s.) says:“One who glorifies Allah after the obligatory prayer through the Tasbeeh of Hazrat Zahra (s.a.), and then follows it up by saying ‘Laa elaaha illallaho’, Allah will forgive his sins.” (Al-Kafi, Kitabus Salaat, Pg. 342)
Reciting the Tasbeeh of Syeda Zahra (s.a.) before sleeping Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) says :
“One who recites the Tasbeeh of Hazrat Zahra (s.a.) at the time of going to bed, he will be accounted amongst those who have remembered Allah a lot.”
(Wasaaelush Shia Vol 4, Pg. 1026)
In the book ‘Wasaaelush Shia’ there is a tradition from Imam Mohammad Baqir (as) which says that at the time of going to bed, Tasbeeh of Hazrat Zahra (s.a.)and then Maoozatain (Surah Falaq and Surah Naas) and Ayatul Kursi should be recited. Teaching the recitation of Tasbeeh to the children
We pray to Allah to grant us the Taufeeq that we may be regular in its recitation.
Some noteworthy points Re tasbih :
1. One of the conditions of worship, rather the most important of them all, is being attentive in its performance. This is specially so in the recitation of Tasbeeh of Hazrat Zahra (s.a.).
2. There should be continuity in the recitation of the Tasbeeh without any interruptions. This has been the practice of our holy Imams (a.s.) (Al- Kaafi, Kitaabus Salaat, Pg. 343 )
3. In case one has a doubt regarding the number of Azkaar that he has recited, then he should start again. This is according to a tradition from Imam Sadiq (a.s.) (Al- Kaafi, Kitaabus Salaat, Pg. 342 )
The Tasbeeh as a Powerful Dua for Any / All needs
In case of a particular need /problem ,this tasbeeh is to be recited with that specific intention for the need to get fulfilled .Eg it is highly recommended for security of Rizq /Sustenance if recited with that specific intention at the door or in car when leaving for work /interview etc
For Rizq (Sufficient Sustenance)
Once the Prophet's (saw) daughter Fatima Zehra (as) asked the prophet for a helper. The Prophet(saw) advised her to recite the following Tasbih which is now known as Tasbih e Zehra. This Tasbih is usually recited after each prayer. However it also has great value for solving the problems of Rizq, Sustenance, Business, Job etc. The person should recite the tasbih with the niyat (intention) of seeking rizq (sustenance), before leaving the house ( sitting in the car for going to work) ,before commencing business or before starting work at office.
Inshallah rizq problems can be overcome with this.
Tasbeeh made out of the Turbah of grave of Imam Husain (a.s.)
It is better that the Tasbeeh of Hazrat Zahra (s.a.) be made of the pure Turbah (soil) of the grave of Imam Husain(a.s.)
It has been narrated from Imame Zamana (a.t.f.s.), “ One who just holds the Tasbeeh made out of the soil of the grave of Imam Husain (as) and does not do any Zikr, even then for him will be written the reward of having recited the Azkaar” (Wasaaelush Shia Vol 4, Pg. 1033)
Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) says : “One zikr or Isteghfaar recited on the Tasbeeh made out of the soil of the grave of Imam Husain (as) is equal to 70 such zikr recited on any other thing.” (Wasaaelush Shia Vol 4, Pg. 1033)
It is most favorable to count the number of the statements of Tasbih al-Zahra' with a rosary (subhah: a string of 100 beads) made of the soil of Imam al-Husayn’s tomb, which is a tradition in all religious rites. It is also recommended to carry at all times such a rosary, which protects from misfortunes and brings about endless rewards.
It is reported that the rosary of Lady Fatimah (`a) was made of woolen knotted string. She used to turn it with her hand while uttering statements of glorifying and professing Almighty Allah’s all-greatness. When Hamzah ibn `Abd al-Muttalib, may Allah be pleased with him, was martyred, she made a rosary from the soil of his tomb, and people followed her in that. When Imam al-Husayn the master of martyrs (`a) was martyred, people used rosaries made of the soil of his tomb. In this respect, the Awaited Imam (`a) is reported to have said, “Whoever forgets to mention Almighty Allah while having a rosary made of the soil of Imam al-Husayn’s tomb in the hand, the reward of remembrance will be recorded for him.”
Imam al-Sadiq (`a) is reported to have said, “A rosary that is made of the soil of Imam al-Husayn’s tomb glorifies Almighty Allah in the hand of its bearer although the bearer does not say anything.”
Imam al-Sadiq (`a) is also reported as saying, “Whoever turns a bead of a rosary made of the soil of Imam al-Husayn’s tomb and implores Almighty Allah’s forgiveness one time, Almighty Allah will record for him the reward of imploring His forgiveness seventy times. If one holds that rosary in the hand without saying anything, seven rewards for each bead will be recorded for him.”
According to another form of this tradition, “If one turns the bead uttering a statement of mentioning Almighty Allah, forty rewards for each bead will be recorded for him.”
It is also reported that the Paradisiacal Women (i.e. al-Hur al-`«n), whenever they see an angel descending to the earth for any mission, ask him to bring them rosaries and prostration-clays made of the soil of Imam al-Husayn’s tomb.
In an authentic tradition, Imam Musa al-Kazim (`a) is reported to have said, “A true believer must not be lacking five things: a teeth-brushing stick (i.e. siwak), a comb, a prostration rug, a thirty-four bead rosary, and a ring whose stone is made of agate.”
Apparently, a pottery rosary is merited, too, although it is preferable that this rosary is made of fireless pottery. Imam al-Sadiq (`a) is reported to have said, “Whoever glorifies Almighty Allah with a rosary of the clay of Imam al-Husayn’s tomb, Almighty Allah will record for him four hundred rewards, erase four hundred sins he has committed, grant him four hundred requests, and raise him four hundred ranks.”
It is also reported that the string of such rosaries may advisably be blue.
Some narrations have suggested that it is better for women to use their fingertips in counting, but the narrations that have reported the recommendation of using rosaries made of clay are bigger in number and more authentic.
OTHER HADITH on Importance and Benefits
In this context Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.) informs, ‘Allah is not worshipped by anything more meritorious than the Tasbeeh of Fatima Zahra (s.a.). Had there been any worship superior to it, most surely the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) would have granted it to Janabe Fatima (s.a.).’
(Wasaaelush Shia , Vol 4 Pg. 1024)
Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) says about the dearness of this Tasbeeh in the eyes of the Imams of the Ahlulbayt (a.s.): “Reciting Tasbeeh of Hazrat Zahra (s.a.) everyday after every Salat is liked by me more than reciting one thousand rakats of (mustahab) namaz”.
(Al-Kafi, Kitabus Salaat)
Reciting this Tasbeeh results in forgiveness of sins. In a tradition , Imam Mohammad Baqir (as) says: “One who recites the Tasbeeh of Hazrat Zahra (s.a.) and then seeks forgiveness, will be forgiven”.
(Wasaaelush Shia Vol 4, Pg. 1023)
It also results in driving Shaitan away and in the satisfaction of Allah as tradition from Imam Mohammad Baqir (a.s.) says:“(Reciting Tasbeeh) drives away Shaitan and makes results in the satisfaction of Allah”.
(Wasaaelush Shia Vol 4, Pg. 1023)
Reciting Tasbeeh regularly delivers the reciter from adversities in this world as well as the hereafter. One of the graceful effects of the regular recitation of the Tasbeeh of Hazrat Zahra (s.a.) is that it delivers the reciter from adversities and hardships in this world as well as the hereafter. Thus one should not ignore its benefits and effects and should not be careless and lazy in its recitation In this connection, Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) says to one of his companions : “ You do adhere to it and be regular about its recitation, for surely one who is steadfast upon its recitation will not encounter adversity.”
(Al-Kafi, Kitabus Salaat, Pg. 343)
In this connection, Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) says : “ O Abu Haroon! We order our children to recite the Tasbeeh of Hazrat Zahra (s.a.)in the same manner as we order them for the performance of Namaz ” (Al-Kafi, Kitabus Salaat, Pg. 343)
FROM MAFATIH
The traditions, reported from the Holy Imams (`a) about the merit of Tasbih al-Zahra', are too many to be counted. Imam al-Sadiq (`a) is reported to have said, “We order our boys to do Tasbih al-Zahra' in the same effect that we order them to perform the obligatory prayers. Hence, you should abide by it, because misery will never find a way to a servant who constantly say it.”
According to validly reported traditions, the “frequent remembrance” that is mentioned and ordered in the Holy Qur'an indicates Tasbih al-Zahra'; therefore, whoever abides by it will have remembered Almighty Allah frequently and carried out the order decreed in this holy verse:
Through a valid chain of authority (i.e. sanad), Imam al-Baqir (`a) is reported to have said, “Whoever glorifies Almighty Allah with the doxology (Tasbih) of Fatimah (`a) and then ends it with imploring Almighty Allah’s forgiveness, Almighty Allah will forgive him. This doxology is one hundred (words) with tongues, but one thousand (rewards) in the Scale. It also dismisses Satan and pleases the Lord.”
Through an authentic (i.e. sahih) chain of authority, Imam al-Sadiq (`a) is reported to have said, “Whoever glorifies Almighty Allah with the doxology (Tasbih) of Fatimah (`a) before he extends his legs after an obligatory prayer, Almighty Allah will forgive him and Paradise will be absolutely decided for him.”
Through another valid (i.e. mu`tabar) chain of authority, Imam al-Sadiq (`a) is reported to have said, “The doxology of Fatimah al-Zahra' (`a) subsequent to every obligatory prayer is dearer to me than offering one thousand units of prayer every day.”
According to another validly reported tradition, Imam al-Baqir (`a) is reported to have said, “No statements of glorification and adoration through which Almighty Allah is worshipped can be better than the doxology of Fatimah (`a). If there had been any thing better than this, the Holy Prophet (s) would certainly have given to Fatimah (`a).”
In conclusion, the traditions about the merits of Tasbih al-Zahra' are too numerable to be all mentioned in this book.
Imam al-Sadiq (`a) is reported to have said, “Whoever glorifies (Almighty Allah) with Tasbih al-Zahra' after every obligatory prayer and follows it with la ilaha illa allahu, Almighty Allah will forgive him.”