Fath al-Rabbani

Benefits: … From these ahadith it is understood that there are two ways of saying the words of salam (salutation of peace): (1) Saying "As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah" (peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah) to both sides, and (2) saying these words to the right side, but to the left side saying only "As-salamu alaykum" (peace be upon you). It is also established that when turning for salam to the right and left, the face should be turned completely to the right and left. The third way of wording is that while turning the face to the right, one says "As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh" (peace be upon you and the mercy and blessings of Allah), and to the left, "As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah" (peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah). (Abu Dawud: 997) Saying salam to only one side is also correct, as the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam sufficed with one salam in the Witr prayer. (Sahih Muslim: 746) When saying salam only once, the face should be turned slightly to the right. (Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi: 296) To exit the prayer, it is necessary to say salam; in the aforementioned evidences, this is the practice of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam that has been presented. Also, it is narrated from Sayyiduna Jabir bin Samurah radi Allahu anhu that the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: "It is sufficient for you to place your hands on your thighs and say salam (i.e., 'As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah') to your brothers on your right and left." (Sahih Muslim: 431) Imam Nawawi rahimahullah said: Know that salam is one of the pillars of prayer and one of its obligations; without it, the prayer is not valid. This is the madhhab (position) of the majority of scholars among the Companions radi Allahu anhum, the Tabi‘in rahimahumullah, and those who came after them. (Sharh an-Nawawi: 5/83) Eighteen (18) Companions narrated this blessed action of the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam that he would say salam to exit the prayer. Also, the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: ((Sallu kama ra’aytumuni usalli)) meaning: "Pray as you have seen me pray." (Sahih Bukhari: 631)

Sayyiduna Ali radi Allahu anhu says that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: ((Miftahu as-salati at-tuhur wa tahrimuha at-takbir wa tahleeluha at-taslim (wa fi lafdh) miftahu as-salati al-wudu’ wa tahrimuha at-takbir wa tahleeluha at-taslim.)) Meaning: The key to prayer is ritual purity (tahur), its prohibition is the takbir (saying Allahu Akbar), and its release is the salam. (Abu Dawud: 61, 618; Ibn Majah: 275; at-Tirmidhi: 3; Musnad Ahmad: 1006, 1072) By "prohibition" (tahrim) is meant that all those actions become forbidden which are impermissible within the prayer, and by "release" (tahleel) is meant that those actions which became forbidden due to the prayer become permissible again. From this hadith it is understood that to enter the prayer, only "Allahu Akbar" is to be said, and to exit the prayer, only salam is to be said. Since in the last two sentences of the blessed hadith, the predicate precedes the subject, exclusivity is established in meaning. The summary is that the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, throughout his life, made it a practice to exit the prayer by saying salam, commanded this, and emphasized adhering to it; therefore, we should also act upon this. However, the Hanafi madhhab is that the worshipper may complete the prayer by performing any action that invalidates the prayer, and saying salam is not necessary, such as by speaking, deliberately breaking ablution (wudu), standing up, etc. If the aforementioned ahadith are kept in mind, there would be no occasion to even consider such an opinion.