the first two rak'ahs, as if he were upon heated stones, until he stands up. Narrated by Abu Dawud (12). The 'radf' refers to heated stones, meaning that he would lighten [the sitting]. This indicates that he would not lengthen it, nor would he add anything to the tashahhud. It is narrated from Masruq that he said: 'Whenever we sat with Abu Bakr, it was as if he were on heated stones until he stood up.' Narrated by Imam Ahmad. Hanbal said: I saw Abu Abd Allah [Ahmad ibn Hanbal] praying; when he sat in the sitting after the two rak'ahs, he would lighten the sitting, then stand up as if he were on heated stones. He only intended to follow the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and his Companion. Furthermore, because the authentic tashahhud versions contain neither the basmala nor any of these additions, one must be limited to them. The basmala and other additions over which there is disagreement are not authentically established according to the hadith scholars. However, if one performs them, it is permissible because it is [a form of] dhikr (remembrance).

Section: If one catches part of the prayer with the Imam and the Imam sits in the final part of his prayer, the follower (ma'mum) should not add to the first tashahhud; rather, he should repeat it. Ahmad explicitly stated this regarding someone who catches a rak'ah with the Imam, saying: 'He repeats the tashahhud and does not invoke blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), nor does he supplicate with anything that is used for supplication in the final tashahhud,' because that [supplication] only occurs in the tashahhud after which he performs the taslim, and this is not the case here.

175 - Issue: He said: (Then he rises, pronouncing the takbir, like his rising from the prostration).

Meaning: When he finishes the first tashahhud, he rises to a standing position on the balls of his feet, relying on his knees, according to what we have mentioned regarding his rising from the prostration in the first rak'ah. He should not move one of his feet forward when rising. Ibn Abbas stated this as well. Ishaq disliked it. It is narrated from...