Chapter on the Prayer of Tasbih and Other Prayers

Al-Husayn ibn Said from Bistam from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, who said: A man said to Imam al-Sadiq عليه السلام: “May I be your ransom, is it proper for a man to embrace his brother?” Imam عليه السلام said: “Yes. Indeed, when the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, blessings on him and his family, conquered Khaybar, the news came to Him صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم that Ja’far عليه السلام had arrived. So Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: ‘By Allah سبحانه وتعالى, I do not know which of the two gladdens me more; the arrival of Ja’far عليه السلام or the conquest of Khaybar’.” Imam عليه السلام continued: “It was not long before Ja’far عليه السلام arrived. So the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, leapt up, embraced him, and kissed him between his eyes.” The man then said to Imam al-Sadiq عليه السلام: “The four rak‘ahs, which I have heard the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family, commanded Ja’far عليه السلام, peace be upon him, to pray?” Imam عليه السلام said: “When Ja’far عليه السلام, peace be upon him, arrived, Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said to Imam عليه السلام: ‘O Ja’far, shall I not give you something? Shall I not grant you something? Shall I not bestow something upon you?’” Imam al-Sadiq عليه السلام continued: “So the people (around the Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) became attentive, thinking that He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم was going to give Ja’far عليه السلام gold or silver. Ja’far عليه السلام said: 'Yes, O Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى.' Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: 'Pray four rak‘ahs, whenever you pray them, whatever is between them will be forgiven for you. If you are able to perform them every day, then do so. Otherwise, every two days, or every Friday, or every month, or every year. For indeed, what is between them will be forgiven for you.' Ja’far عليه السلام asked: 'How do I pray them?' Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: 'You begin the prayer, then recite, then say fifteen times while standing: ‘Subhana Allah, wal-hamdu lillah, wa la ilaha illa Allah, wa Allahu Akbar.’ Then when you bow, say that ten times. And when you raise your head from the bowing, ten times. And when you prostrate, ten times. And when you raise your head from the prostration, ten times. And when you prostrate the second time, ten times. And when you raise your head, ten times. That makes seventy-five (times per rak‘ah), which totals three hundred in four rak‘ahs, and that is one thousand and two hundred. And you recite in every rak‘ah: ‘Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad’ (Surah al-Ikhlas) and ‘Qul Ya ayyuhal-Kafirun’ (Surah al-Kafirun)”