And whoever begins with the words “I have turned my face…” has done well, for it is established in Sahīh Muslim that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, would begin his prayer with this supplication. It has been reported that this was in obligatory prayer, and also that it was in night prayer.

Whoever combines the two, beginning with “Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise be to You” to its end, followed by “I have turned my face…,” has also done well. A hadith traced back to the Prophet has been reported concerning this.

The first is the preferred practice of Abū Hanīfah and Ahmad; the second is that of al-Shāfi‘ī; and the third is that of a group of scholars from the schools of Abū Hanīfah and Ahmad. All these forms are good, just like the various forms of the tashahhud (testimony of faith in prayer) and the seven Quranic readings, from which a person may recite whichever he chooses.

As for whether the opening supplication is obligatory, the majority hold that it is recommended, not obligatory. This is the position of Abū Hanīfah and al-Shāfi‘ī, and the well-known position reported from Ahmad. There is another view within his school, which some scholars mention as a report from him, that the opening supplication is obligatory. Allah knows best.

He was asked:

“What about a man who leads the people in prayer and, after the opening takbīr, recites aloud the formula seeking refuge with Allah, then says ‘In the name of Allah’ and recites the Quran, doing this in every prayer?”