So how do you reconcile these reports? It was said to him: The first thing we say is that we do not permit a person to suffice with only one tasbih when they have the ability to do more; rather, we only allowed that in cases of necessity and valid excuses. As for when there is ability and choice, then that is not permitted. And we only permitted limiting it to one tasbih when a specific phrase is mentioned, which is to say: ‘Subhana Rabbi al-‘Azim wa bi-hamdih’ in bowing, or ‘Subhana Rabbi al-A‘la wa bi-hamdih’ in prostration. But if one says only ‘Subhan Allah’, then it is not permissible to say it less than three times. Also, none of these reports state that whoever does less than three tasbihat, then his prayer is invalid. It is possible that what was meant by them was the negation of perfection and merit, not invalidation. And what clarifies what we have mentioned is:
Commentary #14