hadith shows that once the worshiper has finished the prayer he says: “Astaghfir Allah” (I seek Allah’s forgiveness) three times, and then says: “Allāhumma anta al-salām, wa minka al-salām, tabārakta yā dhal-jalāli wal-ikrām.”
2 – The “leaving” (inṣirāf) intended here is the taslīm; its explanation will come, God willing.
3 – Al-Awzāʿī, one of the transmitters of this report, was asked, “How is the seeking of forgiveness to be done?” He replied, “He says, ‘Astaghfir Allah, Astaghfir Allah, Astaghfir Allah.’”
4 – Istighfār (seeking forgiveness) is an appeal for pardon. One only asks for it out of a sense of shortcoming; repeating it is therefore an admission that he has not fulfilled his Lord’s right of worship because of the stray thoughts, distractions, and deficiencies that befall him. He is thus instructed to seek forgiveness to make up for that shortfall and to acknowledge his weakness and inadequacy.
5 – The hadith affirms al-Salām as one of Allah’s names and attributes: He is free of every defect and imperfection, and He is the One who grants safety to His servants from the evils of this world and the next.
6 – Al-jalāl (majesty) and al-ikrām (honor) are attributes of absolute self-sufficiency and perfect bounty that belong solely to Allah. In His grace He honors the God-fearing and bestows favors on the sincere. “Dhul-jalāl wal-ikrām” (Possessor of majesty and honor) is therefore a magnificent pair of names. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Persist in calling upon ‘O Possessor of majesty and honor.’” He ﷺ also passed by a man who was praying and saying, “O Possessor of majesty and honor,” and he said, “Your prayer has been answered.”
7 – It is recommended for the imam to remain facing the qibla after the taslīm until he has completed the remembrance mentioned in this hadith. In Sharḥ al-Iqnaʿ it is stated: “It is recommended that the imam not prolong his sitting while facing the qibla,” citing the ḥadith of ʿĀʾishah, who said: “When the Prophet ﷺ had given the salām, he would not sit except for the time it took…"