Resolving the Apparent Contradiction in Ibn Taymiyyah's Statement: "The End of the Prayer Is Its Last Part"
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The Shaykh Ibn Taymiyyah mentioned that what is meant by "the end of the prayer" is its last part,Meaning: Before the taslim, does not the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) pose a difficulty for this? (Whoever glorifies Allah thirty-three times after every prayer, and magnifies Allah thirty-three times.
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There is no contradiction.The Shaykh al-Islam says: After the prayer, at its end, if it is in supplication, but if it is in glorification, it is after it, and he has evidence for that, as for the first, which is that if it is supplication, it is before the taslim, its evidence is: that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when he taught Abdullah ibn Mas'ud the tashahhud, said: (Then let him choose whatever supplication he wishes) This indicates that supplication is before the taslim.
And as for if it is dhikr, the evidence for it is: That what is meant by it is after the taslim, the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Al-Nisa: 103] So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) made supplication before the taslim, and the Noble Qur'an made the remembrance after the taslim, and this is clear.
As for the matter of reasoning, we say to this one who supplicates after he has said the taslim: Which is more preferable: that you supplicate to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) while you are in a state of supplication that leads to acceptance; because you are conversing with Allah (Mighty and Majestic), or that you supplicate to Allah after the separation? The first is more preferable, so the words of the Shaykh al-Islam (may Allah have mercy on him) are the stronger position from two aspects: from the aspect of the text and from the aspect of the meaning, and on this basis, the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) to Mu'adh ibn Jabal: (Do not leave saying after every obligatory prayer: O Allah, help me to remember You, to give thanks to You, and to worship You in the best manner) is meant to refer to what is before the taslim.
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There is no contradiction.The Shaykh al-Islam says: After the prayer, at its end, if it is in supplication, but if it is in glorification, it is after it, and he has evidence for that, as for the first, which is that if it is supplication, it is before the taslim, its evidence is: that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when he taught Abdullah ibn Mas'ud the tashahhud, said: (Then let him choose whatever supplication he wishes) This indicates that supplication is before the taslim.
And as for if it is dhikr, the evidence for it is: That what is meant by it is after the taslim, the saying of Allah the Exalted:
Then when you have completed the prayer, remember Allah
فَإِذَا قَضَيْتُمُ الصَّلاةَ فَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَAs for the matter of reasoning, we say to this one who supplicates after he has said the taslim: Which is more preferable: that you supplicate to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) while you are in a state of supplication that leads to acceptance; because you are conversing with Allah (Mighty and Majestic), or that you supplicate to Allah after the separation? The first is more preferable, so the words of the Shaykh al-Islam (may Allah have mercy on him) are the stronger position from two aspects: from the aspect of the text and from the aspect of the meaning, and on this basis, the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) to Mu'adh ibn Jabal: (Do not leave saying after every obligatory prayer: O Allah, help me to remember You, to give thanks to You, and to worship You in the best manner) is meant to refer to what is before the taslim.