Muslim

Hadith Commentary: Benefits and Issues: According to Imam Abu Hanifah rahimahullah, Imam Shafi'i rahimahullah, Imam Ahmad rahimahullah, and the majority of the Salaf, reciting the opening supplication (du'a al-istiftah) after the opening takbir (takbir tahrimah) and before the recitation (qira'ah) is recommended (mustahabb). Imam Malik rahimahullah does not hold the view of reciting the opening supplication after the opening takbir. Imam Shafi'i rahimahullah adopted the supplication narrated from Ali radi Allahu anhu: (Wajjahtu wajhiya lilladhi fatara as-samawati wal-ard...) [the hadith]. Imam Ahmad rahimahullah and Imam Abu Hanifah rahimahullah adopted: (Subhanak Allahumma wa bihamdik...) And this supplication should be recited quietly. After the second rak'ah, at the beginning of the third rak'ah, there is no opening supplication (du'a al-istiftah), as is explicitly mentioned in the narration related to this by Imam Muslim rahimahullah.