its prostration exactly as he did in the first rakʿah. When he lifts his head from the prostration, he sits as he did between the two prostrations and recites the tashahhud. He then rises for the final two rakʿahs, pronouncing the takbīr as he stands. Mālik, however, prefers that the takbīr be delayed until he is fully upright. In these last two units he always recites silently and limits himself to Sūrat al-Fātiḥah in each; adding more is neither forbidden nor does it invalidate the prayer.

At the end he declares the tashahhud once more, sitting for it as he sat the first time. Should he point the toes of both feet toward the qiblah—keeping the right foot upright and lowering the left—this too is acceptable. After the tashahhud he may supplicate for whatever he wishes, whether worldly or religious, but if he is leading others he should not prolong the supplication. He then concludes with the salām as explained in the preceding chapter.

Supplication is permissible throughout the prayer—standing, in prostration, or while seated between the two prostrations—but it is discouraged during the bowing posture, just as Qurʾānic recitation is discouraged there. If he does supplicate while bowing, there is no sin; even naming someone specifically, either to pray for him or against him, does not harm his prayer.