Mu` meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah`s Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question

Dear Mr Burhan Saheb

As-Salamo-Alaikum (w.w.t)

I have been going through your answers given to our various brothers and sisters and give me most valuable and knowledgeable facts for which may Allah Subhanu-taalla bless  and give you

all the rewards that he may bestow on you for this good Islamic service.

Now one of my friend (Moomeen) wants to know more about the following matter and hopefully you will throw more light as to what its significance.

"Fatema-ni-Tasbee"  that all bohra recites 33 times after every farizat-ki-namaaz. Hope you are aware of this and look forward to your appropriate answer in due course.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Tasbeeh Fatema

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His  forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Dear and Beloved brother in Islam, Allah has commanded the believers, who sincerely look forward to Allah and the Last Day, to follow the example of the Messenger of Allah (saws) in all facets of our life!

Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzab verse 21:There is indeed the best example for you to follow, in the Messenger of Allah, for every such person looks forward to Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah much.

And especially in the rites of worship, it is absolutely imperitive that we do only what was done, taught, and approved by the noble Messenger of Allah (saws). No human being who ever walked on this planet earth, worshipped Allah Subhanah better or more than the person of the noble Messenger of Allah (saws). Thus, if he (saws) did it or approved it, we may do it without hesitation; but if the Messenger of Allah (saws) never did or approved of an act of worship, it does not behove the believer, who sincerely believes in Allah Subhanah and the Last Day, to do so!

There is absolutely no evidence that the Messenger of Allah (saws) ever repeated the name of his beloved daughter, and the leader of the women in Paradise; Hadrat Fatima binte Rasool Allah (r.a.) after every obligatory prayer; if that is what you mean when you say ‘Fatima ni tasbeeh’! (Brother, I am personally not aware that the Bohras take the name of Hadrat Fatima (r.a.) 33 times after every obligatory prayer; but taking into consideration the amount of innovations the Bohras have invented in their deen, anything is possible!) And if the Messenger of Allah (saws) did not do it, nor did he approve it; then the believers should not do it, for we have no right to invent or innovate something in the deen of Islam. The Messenger of Allah (saws) himself declared that the most evil affairs are the innovations, and every innovation is an error!; thus the believers must abstain from inventing and/or following any and all innovations in this beautiful and pristine deen of Al Islam.

It has been reported in an authentic narration that the Prophet of Allah (saws) said: “Whoever introduces a ‘bida’ (innovation) in this deen brought by me (saws), it will be rejected.”

It has been reported by Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (r.a.) that the Prophet of Allah (saws) said: “If anyone introduces an innovation (in religion), he will be responsible for it. If anyone introduces an innovation or gives shelter to a man who introduces an innovation (in religion), he is cursed by Allah, by His angels, and by all the people.”

It has been reported by Jabir ibn Abdullah (r.a.) in another authentic narration that the Prophet of Allah (saws) said in a sermon: “The best speech is that which is embodied in the Book of Allah, the Al Quran; and the best guidance is the guidance given by me, Mohamed (saws). The most evil affairs are the innovations, and every innovation is an error.”

The only tasbeeh that the Messenger of Allah (saws) recommended the believers do 33 times after every prayer is the following:

Sahih Muslim Hadith 1243 Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: “If anyone extols Allah (Subhan-Allah) after every prayer thirty-three times, and praises Allah (Alhamdolillah) thirty-three times, and declares His Greatness (Allah-o-Akbar) thirty-three, times, ninety-nine times in all, and say to complete a hundred: "There is no god but Allah, having no partner with Him, to Him belongs sovereignty, and to Him to praise due, and He is Potent over everything," his sins will be forgiven even if these are as abundant as the foam of the sea.

There is indeed an authentic narration from the Messenger of Allah (saws) whereby he advised Hadrat Ali (r.a.) and Hadrat Fatima (r.a.) to glorify Allah Subhanah before they sleep. Maybe this is the tasbeeh that the Bohras have named ‘Fatima ni tasbeeh’! Allah Alone knows best.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 4.344 Narrated by Hadrat Ali ibn Abi Taalib (r.a.)

Fatima complained of what she suffered from the hand mill and from grinding, when she got the news that some slave girls of the booty had been brought to the Messenger of Allah (saws) . She went to him to ask for a maid-servant, but she could not find him, and told 'Aisha of her need. When the Prophet (saws) came, 'Aisha informed him of that. The Prophet (saws) came to our house when we had gone to our beds. (On seeing the Prophet (saws)) we were going to get up, but he (saws) said, 'Keep at your places,' I felt the coolness of the Prophet's feet on my chest. Then he (saws) said, "Shall I tell you a thing which is better than what you asked me for? When you go to your beds, say: 'Allahu Akbar (i.e. Allah is Greatest)' for 34 times, and 'Alhamdu Lillah (i.e. all the praises are for Allah)' for 33 times, and Subhan Allah (i.e. Glorified be Allah) for 33 times. This is better for you than what you have requested."

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan