These four petitions are to be recited just before one concludes the prayer with the taslīm. The scholars—may Allah have mercy on them—differed as to whether saying them is obligatory or merely recommended. The majority hold that it is recommended, and that omitting them does not invalidate the prayer. Some scholars, however, maintain that they are obligatory: a person must seek refuge with Allah from these four matters before the taslīm, and whoever neglects them, his prayer is invalid and he must repeat it. Tāwūs—one of the leading successors (tābiʿīn)—once ordered his son to repeat his prayer because he had failed to recite these four invocations. Therefore, a worshipper should not leave them out; rather, he should be diligent in saying them, given the abundant good they contain and so that his prayer is not deemed invalid according to some scholars. Allah alone grants success.

1425 – ʿĀʾishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Prophet ﷺ would often say while bowing and prostrating: “Subḥānaka Allāhumma Rabbana wa bi-ḥamdik, Allāhumma ighfir lī” (Glory be to You, O Allah, our Lord; to You belongs all praise. O Allah, forgive me). Agreed upon.

1426 – She also reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to say in his bowing and prostration: “Subbūḥun, Quddūs, Rabb al-malāʾikati wa ʼl-rūḥ” (The Most Glorious, the Most Holy, Lord of the angels and the Spirit). Related by Muslim.

1427 – Ibn ʿAbbās (may Allah be pleased with them) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “As for bowing, magnify the Lord therein; and as for prostration, exert yourselves in supplication, for it is more likely that your prayers will be answered.” Narrated by Muslim.