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Fatwa CenterIs There a Fixed Number of Tasbīḥ to Be Said in Bowing and Prostration?
Question
Assalamu alaykum I wanted to know what was the usual practise of our Prophet (pbuh) in reciting adhkar of Bowing and prostration. I say in Bowing Subhana Rabbi Al Adhim five times and in prostration Subhana Rabbi Al Aala three times and some dua. Is my practise deficient ?Do I rush my prayer ? cause I heard the Prophet said these ten times. But I'm confused as how can I say it ten times in every prayer since the length of recitation is different for all five daily praye
Answer
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 (ﷺ) is His Slave and Messenger.
No specific number has been authentically established for the tasbīḥ (glorifications) recited by the Prophet ﷺ during bowing and prostration.
However, it has been authentically reported that when Anas ibn Mālik 
prayed behind ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz he remarked that his prayer closely resembled the prayer of the Prophet ﷺ. The narrators then counted the glorifications in his prayer and found them to be ten tasbīḥāt. This number, however, was an estimate made by the narrators themselves and was not explicitly reported from the Prophet ﷺ.
The minimum requirement of the obligation is fulfilled by saying one tasbīḥ. Whereas, the lowest level of completeness is three tasbīḥāt.
If a person adds more tasbīḥ or supplications that have been reported in the Sunnah, this is good. Examples include:
Subḥānaka Allāhumma Rabbanā wa biḥamdik, Allāhumma ighfir lī
Meaning: “Glory be to You, O Allah, our Lord, and all praise is Yours. O Allah, forgive me.”
Subḥāna dhī al-jabarūti wal-malakūti wal-kibriyā’i wal-ʿaẓamah
Meaning: “Glory be to the One who possesses might, dominion, grandeur, and greatness.”
Likewise, increasing in supplication during prostration is recommended, for the servant is closest to his Lord while he is in prostration, as authentically reported from the Prophet ﷺ.
For further benefit on this subject, you may refer to:
Ṣifat Ṣalāt al-Nabī (The Prophet’s Prayer Described) by al-Albānī.
The section describing the Prophet’s prayer in Zād al-Maʿād by Ibn al-Qayyim.
Allah Knows best.
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