799 - Ahmad ibn Yunus narrated to us, saying: al-Mu'afa ibn 'Imran narrated to us, from Sufyan, who said: 'It suffices you to seek refuge at the beginning of every rak'ah when you open the prayer, as long as you have not yet concluded it with the taslim.'

Chapter: The Two Pauses

• I heard Ahmad say—regarding the pauses of the Imam—he said: 'Some said: The two pauses are a pause when he opens the prayer before the recitation, and a pause when he finishes the recitation before the bowing (ruku').'

• I asked Ishaq, and I said: Is it for the Imam to pause in both rak'ahs, or in the first rak'ah? He said: 'In every rak'ah in which he recites aloud.'

• I heard Ishaq—on another occasion—say: 'The Imam should not recite {All praise is due to Allah} until after a pause, so that those behind him may recite the Opening of the Book (Fatihat al-Kitab).'

800 - Yahya ibn 'Abd al-Hamid and Muhammad ibn Qudama narrated to us, saying: Jarir narrated to us, from 'Amarah ibn al-Qa'qa', from Abu Zur'ah, from Abu Hurayrah—may Allah be pleased with him—who said: When the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, would pronounce the takbir in prayer, he would remain silent for a brief moment before reciting. I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, may my father and mother be sacrificed for you; what do you say during your silence between the takbir and the recitation?' He said: 'I say: "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 snow and cold water."'