It is well known that this is said only after the salām. Thus, his statement, “at the ends of the prescribed prayers,” means: after the salām.

We say: This interpretation of the hadith is not definitive. Rather, it must be understood to mean that what is intended by “the ends” is the final part of the prayers, as indicated by the hadith of Ibn Masʿud, in which the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, instructed him to supplicate after the tashahhud (1). The sunnah explains one part of itself through another. As for the ends of the prayers, Allah has guided His servants to remember Him after them, saying:

“When you have finished the prayer, remember Allah.” [Quran 4:103]

There is no command therein to supplicate.

Accordingly, we say: Whatever has been reported as being prescribed at the end of the prayer—if it is remembrance of Allah, then it is to be done after the salām; but if it is supplication, then it is to be done before the salām.

If someone were to say: “The end of something comes after it, as in the hadith: ‘A man emancipated a slave to take effect after his death’ (2)—that is, after he died?”

The answer is that the end of a thing is that which lies behind it. It may be part of it, or it may not be part of it. What determines whether it is part of it or not are the contextual indications and the wording. Thus, one speaks of the hind part of an animal, which is part of it. Therefore, “the end” is interpreted in each instance according to what the situation and context require.

There remains the matter of persistently supplicating after a voluntary prayer, as some ordinary people do. They adhere to it very strictly, to the point that if the prayer is commenced while one of them is concluding a voluntary prayer with the salām, before rising, he prays