Muslim also relates in his Sahih, from Ibn Abbās—may Allah be pleased with them both—that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “Take heed: I have been forbidden to recite the Quran while bowing or prostrating. As for bowing, declare the greatness of the Lord, Glorious and Exalted, therein; and as for prostration, strive earnestly in supplication, for it is fitting that you should be answered.” 1. That is, it is fitting and proper that you should be answered.
One should likewise seek to supplicate at the end of the prayer, before the final salutation and after the Abrahamic invocation of blessings upon the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Imām Ahmad, al-Tirmidhī, al-Nasā’ī, and others relate that Abdullāh ibn Masūd—may Allah be pleased with him—said: “I was praying while the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was there with Abū Bakr and Umar. When I sat down, I began by praising Allah, then invoked blessings upon the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and then supplicated for myself. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: ‘Ask, and you will be given; ask, and you will be given.’” 2.
Al-Tirmidhī, al-Nasā’ī, and others relate that Fadālah ibn Ubayd—may Allah be pleased with him—said: “The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, heard a man supplicating during his prayer without glorifying Allah or invoking blessings upon the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: ‘You have been hasty, O worshipper.’ The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, then instructed them. Later, the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, heard a man praying who glorified and praised Allah and invoked blessings upon the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: ‘Supplicate, and you will be answered; ask, and you will be given.’” 3.