27 – Ibn Abī al-Sabʿ ibn Ṭalḥah said: “I saw Abū Ḥanīfah ask ʿAṭāʾ about the imam: when he says samiʿa Allāhu liman ḥamidah (Allah hears those who praise Him), should he then say rabbana laka al-ḥamd (Our Lord, to You belongs all praise)? ʿAṭāʾ replied, ‘He is under no obligation to say it.’

He then related from Ibn ʿUmar (may Allah be pleased with them): ‘The Prophet ﷺ led us in prayer, and when he raised his head from bowing he said, samiʿa Allāhu liman ḥamidah, and added: rabbana laka al-ḥamd, ḥamdan kathīran ṭayyiban mubārakan fīh (Our Lord, to You belongs all praise—abundant, pure, and full of blessing). When the Prophet ﷺ concluded the prayer he asked, “Who spoke those words?”—repeating the question three times. A man replied, “I did, O Prophet of Allah.” He said, “By the One Who sent me with the truth, I saw thirty-odd angels rushing to see which of them would write it down for you or raise it up on your behalf.”’