the narrators (8) did not distinguish between the state of being an Imam and an individual praying alone. Furthermore (9), whatever is legislated regarding recitation and dhikr for the Imam is likewise legislated for (10) the individual praying alone, just like all other forms of dhikr.

Section: It is Sunnah to say: "Rabbana wa laka al-hamd" with the letter waw. Ahmad explicitly stated this in the narration of al-Athram, saying: I heard Abu 'Abd Allah affirm the necessity of the waw. He said: Al-Zuhri reported three hadiths regarding it: from Anas, from Sa'id ibn al-Musayyab from Abu Hurayrah, and from (11) Salim from his father; and it is also in the long hadith of 'Ali. This is the opinion of Malik. Ibn Mansur reported from Ahmad that when he raises his head from bowing, he says: "Allahumma Rabbana laka (12) al-hamd." Thus, he does not include the waw in it. As for one who says: "Rabbana", he says: "wa laka al-hamd". This is because it is reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) that he said: "Rabbana wa laka al-hamd", just as the Imam reported. In the hadith of Ibn Abi Awfa, it is reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Sami'a Allahu liman hamidah, Allahumma Rabbana laka al-hamd", and likewise in the hadith of Buraydah. Therefore, it is recommended to follow his example in both phrasings. Al-Shafi'i said: The Sunnah is to say: "Rabbana laka al-hamd"; because the waw is a conjunction, and there is nothing here for it to be joined to. Our argument is that the Sunnah is to follow the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and that affirming the waw involves more letters and includes praise, both implicit and explicit, for the implication is: Rabbana hamidnaka wa laka al-hamd. Since the waw is a conjunction and there is no apparent object for it to be joined to here, it indicates that there is an implicit element in the speech, similar to his saying: "Subhanaka Allahumma wa bi-hamdik" (meaning: and with Your praise, I declare You exalted). Whichever way one says it, it is permissible and good, because [all have been] (13) supported by the Sunnah.