Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Asslamwaalikum.
I read a hadith in a newspaper where some person was praying in a lead by Prophent Muhammad (SAW). When they went into sujud a man praised Allah out aloud. And in the hadith when the prayer finished Prophet Muhammad(SAW) said that he saw Angels desperatley trying to get that message to Allah. It also stated in the hadith that a person can pray before the salaam and during sujud. I just want to confirm that is it possible that I pray but I say the dua`s in my language.

Thanks for your help.  

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Answer:

Supplication in prostration and tashahud

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

There are two authentic narrations to the effect you have related:

Said Raf ah ibn Rafa', "One day we prayed behind the Messenger of Allah (saws). When he raised his head from bowing (ruku), he (saws) said, 'Allah hears him who praises Him,' and a man behind him said, 'Our Lord, to You is the praise, as much as it can be and as blessed as it can be.' When the Prophet (saws) finished the prayer he (saws) said, 'Who said that phrase earlier?' A man said, 'I did, O Messenger of Allah (saws).' The Prophet (saws) said, 'I saw more than thirty Angels chasing after you to see who would record it first."'

Related by Ahmad, al-Bukhari, Malik and Abu Dawud.

Sahih Muslim Hadith 1247 Narrated by Anas ibn Malik

A man came panting and entered the row of worshippers and said: ‘Praise be to Allah, much praised and blessed.’ When the Messenger of Allah (saws) finished the prayer he (saws) said: ‘Who amongst you uttered these words?’ The people remained silent. He (saws) again said: ‘Who amongst you uttered these words? He said nothing wrong.’ Then a man said: ‘I came and had a difficulty in breathing, so I uttered them.’ The Prophet (saws) replied: ‘I saw twelve Angels racing one another as to who will take them up (to Allah).’

Your Question: It also stated in the hadith that a person can pray before the salaam and during sujud. I just want to confirm that is it possible that I pray but I say the dua`s in my language.
The Prophet (saws) said, 'The closest one of you comes to his Lord is while he is prostrating, (therefore) make many supplications therein.' And he (saws) also said, 'I have prohibited you from reciting (Quran) while bowing or prostrating. During the bowing, Glorify the Lord. During the prostrations, strive your hardest in making supplications. Most likely, you will be listened to."

Related by Ahmad and Muslim.

There are several supplications related in the authentic ahaadeeths whereby the Messenger of Allah (saws) either himself made supplication after the recitation of the tashahud and before the tasleems, or taught the believers to do so. Although it is absolutely permissible to supplicate the Lord All-Knowing in any language or phrases of their choice, it would be best and preferred that when there is a supplication related from the Messenger of Allah (saws), one should strive their best to observe his Sunnah. Some of the supplications which the Prophet (saws) made in his prayers are listed below:

1. Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said, "When one of you finishes the final tashahud, he should say, 'O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the torment of the Hell-fire and the grave, from the trials of life and death, and from the trials of the false Messiah." (Related by Muslim.)

2. Aishah reported that the Messenger of Allah (saws) would supplicate in his prayer, "O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the torment of the grave, from the trials of the anti-Christ, and from the trials of life and death. Allah, I seek refuge in You from sin and from debt." (Related by Muslim and al-Bukhari.)

3. Ali reported that when the Prophet prayed, the last thing he would say between the tashahud and the tasleem was, "O Allah, forgive my past and later sins, what was in private and what was in public, and what I have been extravagant in. You are more Knowledgeable of it than I. You are the Promoter and the Retarder. There is no god except You." (Related by Muslim.)

4. Abdullah ibn 'Amr reported that Abu Bakr said to the Messenger of Allah (saws) "Teach me a supplication that I may use in my prayers." He (saws) told him, "Say, O Allah, I have wronged my soul a great wrong and no one forgives sins except You, so forgive me with such forgiveness that only comes from You and have mercy on me. Verily, You are the Oft-Forgiving, the Oft-Mercful." (Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim.)

5. Handhalah ibn 'Ali said that Muhjan ibn al-Adra' related to him that the Prophet (saws) entered the mosque while a man was just about to finish his prayer. The latter made the tashahud and said, "O Allah, I am asking You, O Allah, the One, the Only, the Absolute, who begets nor is begotten, nor is anyone like Him, to forgive my sins, for You are the Forgiving, the Merciful." The Prophet (saws) then said three times, "He has been forgiven." (Related by Ahmad and Abu Dawud.)

6. Shaddad ibn Aus reported that during his prayer, the Prophet (saws) would say, "O Allah, I ask You to confirm me in the affairs, to keep me on the correct path, to make me thankful for your blessings and excellent in Your worship. O Allah, I ask You for a tranquil heart and truthful tongue. O Allah, I ask You for the good of what You know, and I seek refuge in You from the evil of which you are aware, and I ask Your forgiveness from what You know." (Related by an-Nasa'i.)

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan