The key to prayer, what it is

Ibn al-Hanafiyyah narrated from his father that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The key to prayer is ablution (wudu); its consecration (tahrim) is the opening takbir (takbir al-tahrimah), and its release (tahlil) is the salam."

Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The consecration (tahrim) of prayer is the opening takbir (takbir al-tahrimah), and its release (tahlil) is the salam.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The key to prayer is purification (wudu), its tahrim (entry into its sanctity) is the opening takbir, and its tahlil (exit from it) is the salam."

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) says: "The key to prayer is purification (wudu), its tahrim (entry into its sanctity) is the opening takbir, and its tahlil (exit from it) is the salam."

Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) says: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to begin the prayer with the takbir and end it with the salam.

Sayyiduna Abu al-Darda (may Allah be pleased with him) says: Everything has a distinctive sign (shi'ar), and the distinctive sign of prayer is the opening takbir.

Mujahid and Tawus say: The prayer is completed with the tashahhud, and the salam is the permission to conclude it.

Sa'id bin Jubayr says: After the salam, no prayer remains.

Abu Mijlaz says: When the imam says the salam, the prayer of those following him is also complete.