Question831: Is the Prayer of Repentance (Salat al-Tawbah) to be performed only on the first Sunday of the month of Dhu al-Qa‘dah, or on all Sundays of that month?

Answer
✅ Answer: Sayyid Ibn Tawus, in his book *Iqbal*, vol.2, p.20, narrated a report with a chain from Anas ibn Malik (may Allah’s curse be upon him) from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him and his family. It includes performing ghusl, four rak‘ahs of prayer, and certain remembrances and supplications, with various virtues mentioned for it.
This prayer has become known as the 'Sunday Prayer of the month of Dhu al-Qa‘dah' and has gained particular fame.
✅ Regarding this matter, it is appropriate to consider the following points:
1 This narration is Sunni, and it does not meet the conditions of acceptance for Shi‘a practice. For evidence, some of which you may view in the following links:
2 The narrator of this hadith is Anas ibn Malik (may Allah’s curse be upon him), and in Shi‘a narrations it is mentioned that he used to lie against the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him and his family:
✅ عَنِ الْجَلُودِیِّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ زَکَرِیَّا عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عُمَارَةَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ جَعْفَرَ بْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ علیهما السلام یَقُولُ ثَلَاثَةٌ کَانُوا یَکْذِبُونَ عَلَی رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلی الله علیه و آله أَبُو هُرَیْرَةَ وَ أَنَسُ بْنُ مَالِکٍ وَ امْرَأَةٌ.
📚 Bihar, vol.2, p.216
Ja‘far ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Amarah said: I heard Imam al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, say: Three people lied against the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him and his family: Abu Hurayrah, Anas ibn Malik, and a woman!
3 There is no explicit statement restricting this prayer to Sunday. It is merely claimed that this statement was issued on a Sunday!
4 Considering the end of the text, this act is not exclusive to the month of Dhu al-Qa‘dah.
5 There is no supporting narration for this report in Shi‘a hadith sources.
✅ It is appropriate that the believers choose authentic Shi‘a narrations for practice, and exercise understanding and due care in selecting narrations to act upon, God willing.