If someone were to say, “If that is the case, then why do you not prohibit it in an obligatory prayer, as some scholars have prohibited it, since the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: ‘Pray as you have seen me pray’ (1)?”

The answer is that the Prophet’s not doing it does not indicate that it is prohibited, because he gave us a principle: “Nothing of people’s speech is suitable in this prayer; rather, it consists only of glorifying Allah, proclaiming His greatness, and reciting the Quran” (2). Supplication is not people’s speech, so it does not invalidate the prayer. The basic ruling, therefore, is that it is permissible. Nevertheless, we do not recommend that a person do this in an obligatory prayer, for the reasons explained above.

Issue: If the reciter reads, “Is not He Who created [all this] able to give life to the dead?” [Surah al-Qiyamah], this is neither a verse of warning nor a verse concerning mercy, so he may say, “Indeed,” or, “Glory be to You; indeed.” This is reported in a hadith from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him (3), and Imam Ahmad explicitly stated it. Imam Ahmad said: If he recites, “Is not He Who created [all this] able to give life to the dead?” [Surah al-Qiyamah], whether in prayer or outside it, he should say, “Glory be to You; indeed”—in both an obligatory and a voluntary prayer.

And if he recites, “Is not Allah the Most Just of judges?” [Surah al-Tin], he should say, “Glory be to You; indeed” (4).