Solāh al-Tawbah

The Solāh of Repentance.


How is Solāh al-Tawbah (the Prayer of Repentance) offered? How many raka‘at is it? Can I offer it after Solat ‘Asar?

In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful;

All the praise and thanks is due to Allāh, the Lord of al-'ālamīn. There is none worthy of worship except Allāh, and that Muhammad, Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam, is His Messenger.

By the mercy of Allāh Subhānahu wa ta‘ala towards this ummah, He has opened the gate of repentance to it, and it will not cease until the soul reaches the throat (at death) or the sun rises from the west.

By His Mercy to this ummah, Allāh Subhānahu wa ta‘ala 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 Solāh of repentance) and there follow some issues that have to do with this Solāh.

1. The Solāh of repentance is prescribed in sharī’ah

The scholars are unanimously agreed that the prayer of repentance is prescribed in Shari‘ah. Abu Bakar al-Siddiq (radiyallāhu‘anhu) said: “I heard the Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) say:

‘There is no one who commits a sin then purifies himself well and stands and prays two raka’ahs, then asks Allāh for forgiveness, but Allāh will forgive him. Then he recited this verse (Āl-‘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 al-Darda’ (radiyallāhu‘anhu) said: I heard the Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) say:

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

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

2. The reason for the Solāh 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 raka’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 Subhānahu wa ta‘ala by means of this in the hope that He may accept his repentance and forgive his sin.

3. The time for the Solāh 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 wasallam) 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 Sahih at-Tirmidzi (3537)]

• (When the sun rises from the west. The Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) 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.

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (rahimallāh) said:

Solah which are done for a reason, such as the prostration of recitation (Sujud Sahwi), greeting the mosque (Tahiayatul Masjid), the eclipse prayer (Salatul Kusuf and Khusuf),prayer immediately after purifying oneself (Solah Wudu’) , as mentioned in the hadith of Bilal bin Rabab (radiyallāhu‘anhu), and  Solāh istikharah  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 performing Solāh Istikharah  may miss the thing concerning which he is seeking guidance if he delays the prayer.

The same applies to the prayer of repentance (Solah Tawbah). If a person commits a sin, then it is obligatory to repent straight away, and it is recommended for him to pray two raka’ahs, and then repent, as it says in the hadith of Abu Bakar al-Siddiq (radiyallāhu‘anhu).

[Majmu’ al-Fatawa (23/215)]

4. Description of the Solāh of repentance

The prayer of repentance is two raka’ahs, as it says in the hadith of Abu Bakar al-Siddiq (radiyallāhu‘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 Subhānahu wa ta‘ala for forgiveness, because of the hadīth of Abu Bakar As-Siddiq (radiyallāhu‘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 raka’ahs, 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 Subhānahu wa ta‘ala 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 Subhānahu wa ta‘ala 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 (radiyallāhu‘anhu) said when Allāh Subhānahu wa ta‘ala 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 wasallam) 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 Solāh is proven from the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam).

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 Solāh 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 Solāh, such as charity etc.

And Allāh Almighty Knows Best.

[Excerpted with minor modification from Islam Q&A (Fatwa No: 98030)]