And his supplications during prayer, as transmitted in the authentic hadith collections and elsewhere, were made only before leaving the prayer. He told his Companions in an authentic hadith:

“When one of you has recited the tashahhud (testimony of faith), let him seek refuge in Allah from four things, saying: ‘O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the punishment of Hell, from the punishment of the grave, from the trials of life and death, and from the trial of the False Messiah.’”

In the authentic hadith of Ibn Masʿūd, after mentioning the tashahhud, he said:

“Then let him choose whatever supplication he likes best.”

ʿĀ’ishah and others also narrated his supplications during his night prayer, and that they were made before leaving the prayer.

Thus, the interpretation, “When you have finished praying, exert yourself in supplication,” resembles the statement in the hadith of Ibn Masʿūd, after the mention of the tashahhud:

“When you have done that, you have completed your prayer. If you wish to stand, then stand; and if you wish to remain seated, then remain seated.”

Whether this addition is among the words of the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—or among the words of someone who interpolated it into the hadith of Ibn Masʿūd, as the hadith authorities who discuss it maintain, it shows that whoever said this regarded that as the completion of the prayer. Likewise, this commentator regarded it as having finished the prayer.

Nevertheless, interpreting His words,

“So when you have finished, exert yourself,”

as meaning “when you have finished praying” is a weak interpretation. For His words “when you have finished” are unqualified. Moreover, if having finished means having finished worship, supplication is itself worship; whereas if what is meant is being free from