Mūsā and others with that narrated by Ibn Masʿūd. When a particular formula of remembrance conveys a meaning shared by most other formulas, it carries greater weight than one supported by only a single hadith. This indicates how frequently the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, intended to express those meanings; whatever he intended and chose more frequently takes precedence over what he chose less frequently.

This is further supported by the fact that these words are also prescribed after the obligatory prayers, as established in authentic hadiths. They therefore belong to the opening and concluding expressions granted to our Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, for he was granted opening expressions, comprehensive words, and concluding expressions. May Allah send blessings and abundant peace upon him and his family.

He—may Allah have mercy on him—was asked:

Should supplication be offered after the obligatory prayers, after the Sunnah prayers, or after the tashahhud (testimony recited in prayer), within the prayer?

He replied:

The Sunnah that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, practised and instructed others to follow is to supplicate at the tashahhud, before the closing salutation. It is authentically established that he would say after the tashahhud:

“O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the punishment of Hell; I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the grave; I seek refuge in You from the trials of life and death; and I seek refuge in You from the trial of the False Messiah.”