The most beloved speech to Allah is for the servant to say while he is prostrating: "Rabbi inni thalamtu nafsi faghfir li" (My Lord, I have wronged my soul, so forgive me). Both were narrated by Sa'id in his "Sunan." From Abu Hurayrah, that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to say in his prostration: "Allahumma ighfir li dhanbi kullahu, diqqahu wa jillahu, wa awwalahu wa akhirahu, wa sirrahu wa 'alaniyatahu" (O Allah, forgive me all of my sins, the minor and the major, the first and the last, the hidden and the manifest). Narrated by Muslim (7). This is good (8), because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said it. He also said: "As for prostration, then exert yourselves in supplication therein, for it is worthy (9) of being answered for you." A sound (sahih) hadith (10).

Al-Qadi said: It is not recommended to add more than "Subhana Rabbiya al-A'la" (Glory be to my Lord, the Most High) in the obligatory prayer, and there are two narrations regarding supererogatory prayer; because it was not reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) regarding it except the command to recite the tasbih. We have mentioned these sound reports, and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is more deserving to be followed. The command to recite the tasbih does not negate the command to recite other things, just as his command to recite the tashahhud in prayer did not negate the fact that supplication is prescribed. If it were permissible for a command to do a thing to negate other things, then the command to make supplication would negate the tasbih, due to the validity of being commanded to do it and the action of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) doing it during it.

165- Issue; He said: (Then he raises his head while pronouncing the takbir)

Meaning: when he finishes his prostration, he raises his head while pronouncing the takbir, sits, and straightens up. The beginning of his takbir should be with the beginning of his rising, and its completion with his completion. This rising and straightening up from it is obligatory. Ash-Shafi'i held this view. Malik and Abu Hanifah said: It is not obligatory. Rather, according to Abu Hanifah, it suffices to raise his head like the edge of a sword because this is a sitting of separation between two similar acts, so it is not obligatory, like the sitting for the first tashahhud. Our evidence is the statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) to the one who performed his prayer incorrectly: "Then sit until you are at ease while sitting." Agreed upon (1), and because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to do it, and it was not reported that he omitted it. 'A'ishah said: When he—meaning the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)—would rise...