The Virtues and Recitations of Prayer Before Salam: A Complete Guide According to the Sunnah

Have you ever experienced a serene moment of silence right before concluding your prayer? When the index finger is still pointing during the final tashahhud, just before turning the face to give the salām, there is a golden window of time that is often overlooked. In fact, scholars have reached an Ijmā’ (consensus) that this time is one of the best moments to offer supplication.

Reciting a prayer before the salam is not merely an optional addition; it is an intimate opportunity to “confide” in Allah SWT before returning to our worldly activities. Understanding the fundamental understanding of prayer and the deeper wisdom of obligatory prayers helps us appreciate these fleeting moments. In this article, we will thoroughly discuss the recitations before the salam, starting from the legal rulings, the choice of prayers, and the etiquette of its duration based on the classical fiqh book Asna al-Matalib.

Why Should One Pray Before Giving the Islamic Greeting?

Some may ask, don’t we already supplicate during prostration? Why is there a need for a final recitation after the prayer?

The answer is simple: the Messenger of Allah ﷺ highly encouraged it. In a hadith narrated by Muslim and quoted in the book Asna al-Matalib, it is mentioned that when someone finishes reciting the tashahhud, they are permitted to choose any supplication they desire.

“If one of you sits in prayer (tashahhud), then he should read ‘At-Tahiyyaatu lillaah…’ until the end, then he should choose a supplication (dua) that he desires, or that he likes.” (Reported by Muslim)

Therefore, the supplication after the final tahiyyat before the salam is a moment of freedom for a servant. You may ask for the goodness of this world and the hereafter. However, asking for the safety of the hereafter is far more critical, rooted deeply in our faith in Allah and belief in His books. Asking for worldly matters, such as sustenance or a spouse, remains perfectly permissible during this time.

Readings and Prayers Before the Salam According to the Sunnah

Although we may pray for anything, using a ma’tsur supplication (a prayer taught by the Prophet ﷺ) is certainly more blessed and preferable. Learning the proper etiquette of making dua enhances the likelihood of it being answered. Here are some of the most recommended readings after the final tahiyyat before the salam:

1. Prayer for Protection from Four Matters (The Trial of the Dajjal)

The prayer seeking protection from the Dajjal before the greeting is one of the most emphasized prophetic traditions. Just as we seek specific protection in daily life—such as the dua of Prophet Muhammad to avoid the evil eye—this specific prayer acts as our spiritual fortress against the severe trials of the end times.

Arabic:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ وَمِنْ عَذَابِ النَّارِ وَمِنْ فِتْنَةِ الْمَحْيَا وَالْمَمَاتِ وَمِنْ فِتْنَةِ الْمَسِيحِ الدَّجَّالِ

Transliteration: Allahumma inni a’udhu bika min ‘adhabi al-qabr, wa min ‘adhabi an-nar, wa min fitnati al-mahya wal-mamat, wa min fitnati al-masihi ad-dajjal.

Meaning: “O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the torment of the grave, the torment of the Fire, the trials of life and death, and from the trials of the false Messiah (Al-Masih Ad-Dajjal).”

2. Prayer for Forgiveness and Compassion

This profound prayer was taught by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to his closest companion, Abu Bakr As-Siddiq. If you are looking for a heartfelt plea that acknowledges human weakness, this is the perfect choice.

Arabic:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي ظُلْمًا كَثِيرًا وَلَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ فَاغْفِرْ لِي مَغْفِرَةً مِنْ عِنْدِكَ وَارْحَمْنِي إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ

Transliteration: Allahumma inni zalamtu nafsi zulman kathiran, wa la yaghfiru adh-dhunuba illa anta, faghfir li maghfiratan min ‘indika warhamni, innaka anta al-ghafuru ar-rahim.

Meaning: “O Allah, indeed I have wronged myself with much wrongdoing, and no one forgives sins except You. So forgive me with a forgiveness from You and have mercy upon me. Indeed, You are the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.”

3. Prayer for Protection from Sin and Debt

Often, life feels constricted due to the burden of debt or accumulated sins. Just as the dua of Prophet Yunus in the belly of the whale brought deliverance from immense hardship, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ taught this specific recitation before the salam to alleviate such burdens:

Arabic:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْمَأْثَمِ وَالْمَغْرَمِ

Transliteration: Allahumma inni a’udhu bika mina al-ma’thami wal-maghram.

Meaning: “O Allah, I seek refuge in You from committing sin and being overwhelmed by debt.”

4. The Universal Prayer (Goodness of This World and the Hereafter)

Is it permissible to recite the universal prayer? Certainly. It is one of the most concise yet universally encompassing readings you can recite after the final tahiyyat before the salam.

Arabic:

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

Transliteration: Rabbana atina fi ad-dunya hasanatan wa fi al-akhirati hasanatan wa qina ‘adhaba an-nar.

Meaning: “Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.”

Etiquette and Duration: Is Prolonging the Dua Permissible?

This issue often confuses many people. Is it permissible to prolong the supplication before the salam in prayer? Based on the explanation of Sheikh Zakariyya al-Ansari, there are specific rules we need to pay attention to, heavily dependent on our prayer intention (niyyah).

If You Are the Imam

For an Imam, it is disliked (makruh) to prolong the supplication beyond the duration of the tashahhud and salawat without the congregation’s explicit approval. The Imam’s duty is to ease the prayer for his congregation. Prolonged silence before the salam can cause unnecessary anxiety or confusion among the followers. An Imam should stick to reading the essential ma’tsur supplications, such as the prayer for protection from the Dajjal.

Praying Alone (Munfarid)

This is where flexibility truly lies. If you pray alone (munfarid), the strong opinion within the Shafi’i school—as affirmed in the authoritative books Al-Umm and Al-Majmu’—states that you are permitted to prolong the supplication as much as you desire.

You can repeat the prayers, ask for forgiveness for your parents, or request other specific needs. As long as it doesn’t cause you to forget your rak’ah count or become confused, you are encouraged to enjoy this intimate moment with your Creator. Imam Shafi’i even mentioned that if one prays alone but their prayer is rushed and too short (less than the duration of the tashahhud), it is considered disliked.

Original Reference Text

As a form of academic trust (amanah ‘ilmiyyah), the following is the original Arabic text from the book Asna al-Matalib (Volume 1, pages 470-472), which serves as the primary reference for the fiqh rulings in this article:

(ويستحب الدعاء بعدها) أي بعد الصلاة عليه وعلى آله في التشهد الأخير (بما شاء) مما يتعلق بالآخرة والدنيا نحو اللهم ارزقني جارية حسناء لخبر «إذا قعد أحدكم في الصلاة فليقرأ التحيات لله إلى آخرها ثم ليتخير من المسألة ما شاء, أو أحب» رواه مسلم وروى البخاري «ثم ليتخير من الدعاء أعجبه». إليه فيدعو به (والدعاء) (بما يتعلق بالآخرة أفضل) مما يتعلق بالدنيا لأنه المقصود الأعظم (والدعاء المأثور) بالمثلثة أي المنقول عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم (أفضل) من غيره ومنه اللهم اغفر لي ما قدمت وما أخرت وما أسررت وما أعلنت وما أسرفت وما أنت أعلم به مني أنت المقدم وأنت المؤخر لا إله إلا أنت

ومنه اللهم إني أعوذ بك من عذاب القبر ومن عذاب النار ومن فتنة المحيا, والممات ومن فتنة المسيح الدجال ومنه اللهم إني أعوذ بك من المأثم, والمغرم ومنه إني ظلمت نفسي ظلما كثيرا ولا يغفر الذنوب إلا أنت فاغفر لي مغفرة من عندك وارحمني إنك أنت الغفور الرحيم

(وليكن) دعاؤه (أقل من التشهد, والصلاة على النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم)؛ لأنه تبع لهما والذي في المنهاج كأصله يسن أن لا يزيد عليهما, فإن زاد لم يضر (ولكن) (يكره للإمام تطويله) بغير رضا المأمومين … وما شمله كلامه كأصله من أن المنفرد يستحب أن يكون دعاؤه أقل من التشهد, والصلاة على النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم خلاف ما في كتب المذهب فإن الذي فيها أنه يطيل ما أراد ما لم يخف وقوعه به في سهو جزم به خلائق لا يحصون ونص عليه في الأم وقال, فإن لم يزد على التشهد, والصلاة على النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم كرهت ذلك, وقد جزم بذلك النووي في مجموعه فإنه ذكر النص ولم يخالفه نبه على ذلك في المهمات¹

Conclusion

The final moments before the salam are precious in our worship. Do not let them pass by in vain by hastily turning to the right and left. Take the time to recite a prayer before the salam, seeking protection from the trials of this world and the hereafter.

Hopefully, by practicing these prophetic supplications after the tashahhud, the quality and khushu’ of our prayers will increase, and our pleas will more easily penetrate the heavens.