145 / Supplications Reported Between the Tashahhud and the Salutation

One of the points during prayer at which it is recommended for a Muslim to be especially diligent in supplication is the interval between the tashahhud and the salutation. It is authentically reported in the two Sahīhs from ‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ūd (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) taught him the tashahhud and then said at its conclusion: “Then let him choose whichever supplication he likes best and supplicate with it.”1 In a narration recorded by Muslim: “Then let him choose whatever request he wishes.”2

It is preferable for a Muslim at this point to use the supplications transmitted from the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). However, there is no harm in using other supplications, provided they contain nothing objectionable.

The following are some of the transmitted supplications for this point in the prayer. It is reported in the two Sahīhs from Abū Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: “When any one of you has recited the tashahhud, let him seek refuge in Allah from four things, saying: O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the punishment of Hell, from the punishment of the grave, from the trials of life and death, and from the evil of the trial of the False Messiah.”3 Some scholars held that seeking refuge in this manner shortly before the salutation is obligatory, whereas the majority of scholars held that it is recommended, not obligatory.

His words, “from the punishment of Hell”: seeking refuge from the punishment of Hell is mentioned first because it is the ultimate destruction, beyond which there is no greater destruction. Hell is the name of the Fire that Allah has prepared for the disbelievers on the Day of Resurrection.

His words, “and from the punishment of the grave,” affirm that the punishment of the grave is real and that a Muslim should seek refuge in Allah from it.