Solah al-Tawbah

Solāh al-Tawbah

How is Solāh al-Tawbah (Prayer of Repentance) offered? How many rak’at is it? Can I offer it after ‘Asar prayer?

In the name of Allāh, Most Gracious, Most Merciful,
All the praise and thanks is due to Allāh, the Lord of the Al-Alamin. Peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

By Allāh's mercy towards this ummah, He has opened the gate of repentance and it will not cease until the soul reaches the throat (at death) or the sun rises from the west.Allah has prescribed for them an act of worship which is one of the best acts of worship, by means of which the sinner can draw close to his Lord with the hope of his repentance being accepted. This is Solāh al-Tawbah (The Prayer of Repentance) and there follow some issues that have to do with this prayer.

1. The prayer of repentance is prescribed in shari’ah

The scholars are unanimously agreed that the prayer of repentance is prescribed in shari’ah. Abu Bakar al-Siddiq (radiallāhu`anhu) said: “I heard the Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu `Alayhi Wa Sallam) say:

‘There is no one who commits a sin then purifies himself well and stands and prays two rak’ahs, then asks Allāh for forgiveness, but Allāh will forgive him. Then he recited this verse (Al-‘Imran, 3:135): ‘And those who, when they have committed Fāhishah (illegal sexual intercourse) or wronged themselves with evil, remember Allāh and ask forgiveness for their sins; — and none can forgive sins but Allāh — and do not persist in what (wrong) they have done, while they know’.”

[Abu Dawud (1521); Classified as sahih by al-Albāni in Sahih Abi Dawud]

It was narrated that Abu’l-Darda’ (radiallāhu`anhu) said: I heard the Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu `Alayhi Wa Sallam) say:

“The one who does wudhu’ and does it well, then stands and prays two rak’ahs or four (one of the narrators was uncertain), in which he remembers Allāh and focuses well, then asks Allāh for forgiveness, He will forgive him.”

[Ahmad (26998); the editor of al-Musnad said: its isnād is hasan. It was also quoted by al-Albāni in Silsilat al-Ahādīth al-Sahihah (3398).]

2. The reason for the prayer of repentance

The reason for the prayer of repentance is if a Muslim falls into sin, whether it is a major or minor sin, he has to repent from it straight away and it is recommended for him to do the two rak’ahs Solāh al-Tawbah. And when he repents he should do a righteous deed which is one of the best of deeds, namely prayer. So he may draw close to Allāh by means of this in the hope that He may accept his repentance and forgive his sin.

3. The time for the prayer of repentance

It is mustahabb to offer this prayer when the Muslim has decided to repent from the sin that he has committed, whether this repentance comes immediately after committing the sin or later on. The sinner must hasten to repent but if he delays it, it will still be accepted, because repentance is accepted so long as one of the following impediments does not occur:

• When the soul reaches the throat (at death). The Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu `Alayhi Wa Sallam) said: “Allāh will accept the repentance of His slave so long as the death rattle has not yet begun.” [Classified as hasan by al-Albāni in Sahīh at-Tirmidzi (3537)]

• (When the sun rises from the west. The Prophet (Sallallāhu `Alayhi Wa Sallam) said: “Whoever repents before the sun rises from the west, Allāh will accept his repentance” [Narrated by Muslim (2703)]

This prayer is prescribed at all times including times when prayer is disallowed (such as after ‘Asar prayer), because it is one of the prayers that are done for a reason, so it is prescribed when the reason for it is present.

Solats which are done for a reason, such as the prostration of recitation, greeting the mosque, the eclipse prayer, prayer immediately after purifying oneself, as mentioned in the hadith of Bilal, and istikharah prayer should not be delayed if the reason comes up at a time when prayer is disallowed, because delaying them may cause one to miss them, such as if the one who is praying istikharah may miss the thing concerning which he is seeking guidance if he delays the prayer. The same applies to the prayer of repentance. If a person commits a sin, then it is obligatory to repent straight away, and it is recommended for him to pray two rak’at, and then repent, as it says in the hadith of Abu Bakar al-Siddiq.

[Majmu’ al-Fatawa (23/215)]

4. Description of the prayer of repentance

The prayer of repentance is two rak’ahs, as it says in the hadith of Abu Bakar al-Siddiq (radiallāhu`anhu) above.

It is prescribed for the one who is repenting to pray alone, because it is one of the naafil prayers that it is not prescribed to offer in congregation. After that it is prescribed to ask Allāh for forgiveness, because of the hadith of Abu Bakar radiallāhu`anhu.

There is no report from the Prophet (Sallallāhu `Alayhi Wa Sallam) to say that it is mustahabb to recite any particular surah in these two rak’at, so the worshipper may recite whatever he wants.

It is mustahabb for the penitent to strive hard in doing righteous deeds as well as offering this prayer, because Allāh says:

“And verily, I am indeed forgiving to him who repents, believes (in My Oneness, and associates none in worship with Me) and does righteous good deeds, and then remains constant in doing them (till his death)”

[Ta-Ha 20:82]

Among the best of righteous deeds that the penitent can do is giving charity, for charity is one of the greatest means of expiating sin. Allāh says:

“If you disclose your Sadaqāt (almsgiving), it is well; but if you conceal them and give them to the poor, that is better for you. (Allāh) will expiate you some of your sins”

[Al-Baqarah, 2:271]

It is proven that Ka’ab Ibn Mālik (radiallāhu`anhu) said when Allāh accepted his repentance:

O Messenger of Allāh, as part of my repentance I shall give up my wealth as charity for Allāh and His Messenger. The Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu `Alayhi Wa Sallam) said: “Keep some of your wealth, for it is better for you.” He said: ‘Then I shall keep my share in Khyber’.

[Al-Bukhari, Muslim]

To sum up:

1. This Solāt is proven from the Prophet (Sallallāhu `Alayhi Wa Sallam).

2. It is prescribed when the Muslim repents from any sin, whether it is a major sin or a minor sin, and whether this repentance comes immediately after committing the sin or after some time has passed.

3. This prayer may be offered at any time, including times when prayer is disallowed.

4. It is mustahabb for the penitent to do some good deeds along with this prayer, such as charity etc.

And Allāh Knows Best.

[Via Fatwa No: 98030 Islam Q&A]