Fatwa ID: 06738

Answered by: Maulana Ousman Haye

Question:

Is it Sunnah to read Allahu Akbar and Subhanallah when ascending and descending stairs? Some Ulema say this is a Sunnah only during travelling.

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

Al-Bukhari narrated in his Saheeh that Jabir ibn ‘Abd-Allah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: When we went up we would say takbeer (Allahu Akbar) and when we went down we would say tasbeeh (Subhan Allah). (Bukhari:2993)

We see from the above narration that the Messenger of Allah (May peace and blessings be upon him) kept the ruling general and did not specify it to only be for a traveller. When something is left general, we leave it on its generality and do not make it specific. 

Furthermore, a believer should always be in the remembrance of Allah (swt) at all times. Therefore, one should recite this dua when ascending and descending stairs or a hill at all times and not only when one is a traveller. 

Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.

Written by Maulana Ousman Haye

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

عن جابر رضي الله عنه قَالَ: كُنَّا إِذَا صَعِدْنَا كَبَّرْنَا، وَإِذَا نَزَلْنَا سَبَّحْنَا

(البخاري، 2993)

قاعدة: المطلق يجري على إطلاقه ما لم يقم دليل التقييد نصا أو دلالة

(كتاب الوجيز في إيضاح قواعد الفقه الكلية، ص٣٢٤)