Describing the forms of taslim when exiting the prayer, with an explanation of the most complete of them.

The questioner : My master, in the prayer, when I said the taslim from the prayer, on the right I said "peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy and His blessings," and on the left I said "peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy." In many mosques, some imams do that, and some are content with "peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy" on the right and on the left. Now, what is the most complete in the prayer?

The Shaykh : The most complete is what you heard; it is what you heard. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had types of taslim when he exited the prayer. The weakest and simplest is a single taslim, and it is not exactly to the right like this, but rather he turns his head slightly and says "peace be upon you," and with that the prayer is finished. The second taslim, or the second form, which the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to do sometimes, is "peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy," "peace be upon you." There is no "and Allah's mercy" here, and this is part of the etiquette of Islam in distinguishing the right side from the left side. The third form is what you hear in all the mosques, equalizing between the right and the left: "peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy," "peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy." The fourth and final form is what you heard on this night: "peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy and His blessings," "peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy." This is the best of them. And the meaning of all this is that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) sometimes said the taslim like this, sometimes like this, sometimes like this, and sometimes like this. And we return to say: the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).

The questioner : Do you permit me, O our Shaykh, regarding when you speak "peace be upon you," is the phrase "peace be upon you" said facing the qiblah or directly to the right?

The Shaykh : In the first form, or in any form?
Abu Layla : In any of the forms.

The Shaykh : No, he does not divide it; rather, he turns to the right and begins with the peace. As for the first form, this is specific between in front of him and to his right; he says "peace be upon you."

The questioner : Meaning, is he facing the qiblah?

The Shaykh : Between in front of him and to his right.
Abu Layla : Yes, there is a slight turn.

The Shaykh : As for the other forms of taslim or types, they are to the right, then to the left. As for beginning from in front of him and ending to his right and to his left, this has no basis.