بَابُ مَا يُقْرَأُ بَعْدَ التَّكْبِيرِWhat is Recited After the Takbir

Allah Almighty says: "And glorify the praises of your Lord when you rise (for prayer)." (Surah At-Tur, 52:48)

Abu Wa'il reported: When Uthman would begin the prayer, ¹ he would say,

سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ وَلَا إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ

(Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise be to You. Blessed is Your name, and exalted is Your majesty. There is no god but You). He would say this loudly so that we could hear him. [Narrated by Al-Daraqutni while Muslim also narrated something similar from Umar]

Ibrahim reported: Some people from Basra came to Umar ibn Al-Khattab to ask him about how to begin the prayer. Umar stood up, began the prayer, and they stood behind him. He then recited loudly:

سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ، وَبِحَمْدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ وَلَا إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ

(Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise be to You. Blessed is Your name, and exalted is Your majesty. There is no god but You).

[Narrated by Muhammad in Al-Athar while Al-Daraqutni also narrated something similar]

Muhammad said: We follow this in beginning the prayer, but we do not consider it necessary for the Imam or those behind him to recite it loudly. Umar only did so to teach them what they had asked about. Shaykh Ibn Al-Humam said: Since it is established that the Companions, such as Umar and others, began the prayer with "Subhanaka Allahumma" and recited it loudly to teach people so they could follow and learn, this indicates that this was the final practice.

Anas reported: When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) began the prayer, he would say the Takbir, raise his hands until his thumbs were level with his ears, and then say:

سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ وَلَا إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ

(Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise be to You. Blessed is Your name, and exalted is Your majesty. There is no god but You). [Narrated by Al-Daraqutni, who said: All the narrators in its chain are trustworthy]

Aisha reported: When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) began the prayer, he would say:

سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ وَلَا إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ

(Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise be to You. Blessed is Your name, and exalted is Your majesty. There is no god but You). [Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud]

The chain of Abu Dawud is Hasan, and its narrators are reliable. Ibn Majah also narrated it from Abu Sa'id. Al-Tirmidhi said: This hadith is only known through Harithah, and there has been criticism regarding his memory. At-Tawrishti said: This hadith is Hasan and well-known. It was followed by caliphs like Umar. The hadith is recorded in Muslim's collection from Umar. It was also followed by Abdullah ibn Mas'ud and other scholars among the Companions, as well as many scholars among the Tabi'in. Abu Hanifah and others also preferred it. How can this hadith be considered weak when it has been accepted by leading scholars of hadith, such as Sufyan Ath-Thawri, Ahmad ibn Hanbal, and Ishaq ibn Rahwayh? Al-Tirmidhi's criticism was only regarding the specific chain he mentioned, not the hadith in general. This hadith has been narrated by prominent scholars of hadith and is found in Abu Dawud's collection with a Hasan chain, and its narrators are reliable. Thus, it is clear that Al-Tirmidhi's criticism was limited to the specific chain he mentioned, as mentioned in Al-Mirqah.

Anas reported: A man entered the prayer row while out of breath and said:

اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، الحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ حَمْدًا كَثِيرًا طَيِّبًا مُبَارَكًا فِيْهِ

(Allah is the Greatest. Praise be to Allah, abundant, pure, and blessed praise). When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) finished the prayer, he asked, "Who said these words?" The people remained silent. He asked again, "Who said these words? There is no harm in them." A man said, "I came while out of breath and said them." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "I saw twelve angels rushing to see who would take them up." [Narrated by Muslim]

In Al-Bahr Ar-Ra'iq, it is mentioned that this occurred in the early days of Islam. It is also indicated by the fact that Umar recited the opening supplication loudly to teach people, showing that this was the final practice in obligatory prayers.

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would pause briefly between the Takbir and the recitation. I asked, "O Messenger of Allah, what do you say during that pause?" He said, "I say: 'Allahumma ba'id bayni wa bayna khatayaya kama ba'adta bayna al-mashriqi wa al-maghrib. Allahumma naqqini min al-khataya kama yunaqqa ath-thawb al-abyad min ad-danas. Allahumma ighsil khatayaya bi al-ma'i wa ath-thalji wa al-barad'" (O Allah, distance me from my sins as You have distanced the east from the west. O Allah, purify me from my sins as a white garment is purified from filth. O Allah, wash away my sins with water, snow, and hail). This is agreed upon (Bukhari and Muslim]

Ali reported: When the Prophet (ﷺ) stood for prayer, in another narration: when he began the prayer, he would say the Takbir and then say:

وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي فَطَرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَبِذَلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ، اللهُمَّ أَنْتَ الْمَلِكُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، أَنْتَ رَبِّي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ. ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي وَاعْتَرَفْتُ بِذَنْبِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي ذُنُوبِي جَمِيعًا، إِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوْبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ. وَاهْدِنِي لِأَحْسَنِ الْأَخْلَاقِ، لَا يَهْدِي لِأَحْسَنِهَا إِلَّا أَنْتَ. وَاصْرِفْ عَنِّي سَيِّئَهَا، لَا يَصْرِفُ عَنِّي سَيِّئَهَا إِلَّا أَنْتَ، لَبَّيْكَ وَسَعْدَيْكَ، وَالْخَيْرُ كُلُّهُ فِي يَدَيْكَ، وَالشَّرُّ لَيْسَ إِلَيْكَ، أَنَا بِكَ وَإِلَيْكَ، تَبَارَكْتَ وَتَعَالَيْتَ، أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتُوْبُ إِلَيْكَ.

(I have turned my face toward He who created the heavens and the earth, as a pure monotheist, and I am not of the polytheists. Indeed, my prayer, my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds, who has no partner. With this, I have been commanded, and I am of the Muslims. O Allah, You are the King, there is no god but You. You are my Lord, and I am Your servant. I have wronged myself and acknowledged my sin, so forgive me all my sins, for none forgives sins but You. Guide me to the best of character, for none guides to the best of it but You. Turn away from me the evil of it, for none turns away the evil of it but You. Here I am, at Your service, and all good is in Your hands, and evil is not attributed to You. I exist by You and for You. Blessed and exalted are You. I seek Your forgiveness and repent to You).

When he bowed, he would say:

اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ رَكَعْتُ، وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ، وَلَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ، خَشَعَ لَكَ سَمْعِي وَبَصَرِي وَمُنِّي وَعَظْمِي وَعَصَبِي

(O Allah, to You I bow, in You I believe, and to You I submit. My hearing, sight, bones, and nerves are humbled before You).

When he raised his head, he would say:

اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ، مِلْءَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا، وَمِلْءَ مَا شِئْتَ مِنْ شَيْءٍ بَعْدُ

(O Allah, our Lord, to You is all praise, filling the heavens, the earth, and what is between them, and filling whatever else You will).

When he prostrated, he would say:

اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ سَجَدْتُ، وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ، وَلَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ، سَجَدَ وَجْهِي لِلَّذِي خَلَقَهُ وَصَوَّرَهُ وَشَقَّ سَمْعَهُ وَبَصَرَهُ، تَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ أَحْسَنُ الْخَالِقِينَ

(O Allah, to You I prostrate, in You I believe, and to You I submit. My face has prostrated before He who created it, shaped it, and gave it hearing and sight. Blessed is Allah, the Best of Creators).

At the end, between the Tashahhud and the Taslim, he would say:

اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي مَا قَدَّمْتُ وَمَا أَخَرْتُ، وَمَا أَسْرَرْتُ وَمَا أَعْلَنْتُ أَسْرَفْتُ، وَمَا أَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ بِهِ مِنِّي، أَنْتَ الْمُقَدِّمُ وَأَنْتَ الْمُؤَخِّرُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ

(O Allah, forgive me for what I have done in the past and what I will do in the future, what I have concealed and what I have declared, and what I have exceeded in. You are the One who brings forward and delays. There is no god but You). [Narrated by Muslim]

In a narration by Ash-Shafi'i, he added:

وَالشَّرُّ لَيْسَ إِلَيْكَ، وَالْمَهْدِيُّ مَنْ هَدَيْتَ، أَنَا بِكَ وَإِلَيْكَ، لَا مَنْجَاً مِنْكَ وَلَا مَلْجَأَ إِلَّا إِلَيْكَ، تَبَارَكْتَ

(And evil is not attributed to You. The guided one is whom You guide. I exist by You and for You. There is no escape from You except to You. Blessed are You).

Jubayr ibn Mut'im reported: He saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) praying and saying three times:

اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ كَبِيرًا، اللهُ أَكْبَرُ كَبِيرًا، اللهُ أَكْبَرُ كَبِيرًا، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ كَثِيرًا، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ كَثِيرًا، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ كَثِيرًا، وَسُبْحَانَ اللهِ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًا

(Allah is the Greatest, exceedingly great. Praise be to Allah, abundantly. Glory be to Allah, morning and evening). He would then say:

أَعُوْذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ مِنْ نَفْخِهِ وَنَفْثِهِ وَهَمْزِهِ

(I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed, from his arrogance, his misleading words, and his harms).

[Narrated by Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah, except that they did not mention "وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ كَثِيرًا]

At the end, they mentioned: "مِنْ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّحِيمِ" (from Satan, the accursed). Umar said: " نَفْخه is pride, نَفْثه is falsehood, and هَمْزه is death."

Jabir reported: When the Prophet (ﷺ) began the prayer, he would say the Takbir and then say:

إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَبِذَلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَا أَوَّلُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنِي لِأَحْسَنِ الْأَعْمَالِ وَأَحْسَنِ الْأَخْلَاقِ، لَا يَهْدِي لِأَحْسَنِهَا (الأنعام: ١٦٢-١٦٣) إِلَّا أَنْتَ، وَ وَقِنِي سَيِّئَ الْأَعْمَالِ وَسَيِّئَ الْأَخْلَاقِ، لَا يَقِي سَيِّئَهَا إِلَّا أَنْتَ

(Indeed, my prayer, my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds, who has no partner. With this, I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims. O Allah, guide me to the best of deeds and the best of character, for none guides to the best of them but You. Protect me from evil deeds and evil character, for none protects from them but You). [Narrated by Al-Nasa’i]

Muhammad ibn Maslamah reported: When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood for voluntary prayer, he would say:

اللهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي فَطَرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ

(Allah is the Greatest. I have turned my face toward He who created the heavens and the earth, as a pure monotheist, and I am not of the polytheists).

He would then mention the rest of the supplication similar to the hadith of Jabir, except he would say: "وَأَنَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ" (and I am of the Muslims).

Then he would say:

اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الْمَلِكُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ وَبِحَمْدِكَ

(O Allah, You are the King, there is no god but You. Glory be to You and praise be to You).

Then he would begin reciting. [Narrated by Al-Nasa’i]

Al-Halbi said: All of this is related to voluntary and night prayers, as the matter is more flexible in them. This is supported by what is recorded in Sahih Abu 'Uwanah and Sunan Al-Nasa’i, where it is mentioned that when he stood for voluntary prayer, he would say: "اللهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَجَّهْتُ الخ" This explains what is mentioned in other narrations. As for "سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ" what we have mentioned clarifies that it is the established practice in obligatory prayers. This is mentioned in Rad al-Muhtar and Al-Mirqah. In Al-Bayhaqi, it is mentioned: When he began the prayer, he would say:

سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ، وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ، وَلَا إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ، وَجَهْتُ وَجْهِيَ إلخ

(Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise be to You. Blessed is Your name, and exalted is Your majesty. There is no god but You. I have turned my face toward...).

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would pause briefly when he began the prayer. [Narrated by Al-Nasa’i[

Abu Huraira reported: When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) rose from the second rak'ah, he would begin the recitation with "الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعُلَمِينَ" (All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds) and would not pause. [Narrated by Muslim[