this one. It is the strongest evidence for the opening supplication in obligatory prayers, for it explicitly addresses this in the words: “Tell me about your silence between the opening takbīr and the recitation.” This is a question about silence, not about speaking quietly. It is corroborated by the hadith of Samurah and that of Ubayy ibn Ka'b, which state that the Prophet observed two pauses.

There are also several views concerning pauses in prayer.

The first is that there are no pauses, as Mālik held. He did not regard an opening supplication, seeking refuge with Allah, or a pause for the imam’s recitation as recommended.

The second is that there is only one pause, for the opening supplication, as Abū Hanīfah held, since this hadith establishes that pause.

The third is that there are two pauses, as stated in the hadith recorded in the Sunan collections. One version reports that he paused upon completing the recitation, and this is the correct version. Another reports that he paused upon completing al-Fātihah. Accordingly, some followers of al-Shāfi'ī and Ahmad held that three pauses are recommended. The followers of al-Shāfi'ī and some followers of Ahmad considered the pause after al-Fātihah an opportunity for those praying behind the imam to recite al-Fātihah.

The correct view is that only two pauses are recommended, for that is all the hadith mentions. One of the two versions is mistaken; otherwise, there would have been three pauses.