“Allah hears whoever praises Him”; rather, he says: “Our Lord, and to You belongs all praise.”

The apparent meaning of the author’s words is that he adds nothing to this remembrance after rising from bowing. However, the correct view is that he adds what is established in the sunnah, such as: “O Possessor of praise and glory, most worthy of what a servant may say—and all of us are Your servants. O Allah, none can withhold what You give, none can give what You withhold, and no person’s wealth or fortune can benefit him against You.” (1)

Accordingly, it appears that the author omitted this phrase either out of limitation or abridgement. If it was an abridgement, then the meaning is that the author confined himself to part of the reported remembrance. If it was limitation, then the meaning is that the author holds that one should say nothing besides it, but should confine himself to this alone. Yet what appears more likely is that he omitted it by way of abridgement, because the context is one of remembrance, and all of the remembrance should be mentioned—unless someone claims that the author regarded this book as an abridgement and therefore abbreviated it.

Supplement: The author, may Allah have mercy on him, did not mention what one should do with his hands after rising from bowing: should he return them to their position before bowing, placing his right hand over his left forearm, or should he let them hang at his sides?

The explicit position reported from Imam Ahmad, may Allah have mercy on him, is that a person may choose between letting them hang and placing the right hand over the left. It seems that Imam Ahmad, may Allah have mercy on him, held this view because there is nothing explicit in the sunnah on this matter; he therefore considered the person free to choose. This is like what some scholars say concerning