remembers it after only a short interval should return, pronounce the salām, and make the two prostrations for forgetfulness.

The salām consists of saying once, “as-salāmu ʿalaykum” (peace be upon you). No other wording fulfils the requirement, and one does not leave the prayer with anything else. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “The prayer is entered by the takbīr and released by the taslīm.”

When giving the salām he must intend thereby to exit the prayer and bring it to a close. Both the imam and the person praying alone utter a single salām. The sunnah is to incline slightly to the right at the end of it, keeping it brief and not drawing it out.

It is recommended for the congregant, if someone is on his left, to return that person’s salām in the same manner; the imam should do likewise. Should either of them omit this, no blame is incurred. The preferable course for the congregant is to give two salāms: with the first he intends to discharge and finish his prayer, and with the second he replies to the imam—and, if someone on his left has greeted him, he returns that greeting with the same second salām.

Every Muslim ought not to omit invoking blessings upon the Prophet along with the tashahhud at the end of the prayer, before the salām. This practice is encouraged and recommended, and it makes it more likely that his supplication will be answered.

If he leaves it out, his prayer is not invalidated, although he has acted improperly. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ, when he sat for the first tashahhud, would make it so brief that it was as though he were sitting on hot stones.