Some people have the habit of greeting those next to them, on the right or the left, after every obligatory or voluntary prayer, and likewise greeting the imam after the obligatory prayer
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The questioner : Some people have the habit of greeting the person next to them, on the right or the left, after every obligatory or voluntary prayer, and likewise greeting the imam after the obligatory prayer. There is another custom I heard is not obligatory, which is raising the hands after a voluntary prayer for supplication. I ask for information regarding this?
The Shaykh : As for the first, which is greeting after the prayer, if it happens immediately, as some people do, shaking hands with the person on their right and left as soon as they say the closing salam, and perhaps adding to that saying "May Allah accept it" or something similar, then this practice has no basis. It was not part of the guidance of the righteous predecessors, and the best guidance is the guidance of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Rightly Guided Caliphs.
As for if it happens after a voluntary prayer, and a person greets the one on his right or left, not with the intention that this is a recommended practice or that it is prescribed, then I hope there is no harm in it, because there is a benefit in it, which is uniting hearts, and one may need to ask about his condition.
As for supplication after the voluntary and obligatory prayers, it has no basis from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). For Allah the Exalted said: and He did not say: "So supplicate to Allah." Supplication is only to be done before the salam. This is how the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) guided us, saying when he mentioned the tashahhud: Sahih Ibn Hibban 10:238
Just as this is what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) guided us to, it is also the correct analogical reasoning and consideration, because it is more appropriate for a person to supplicate before he says the salam than after he says it. Because before he says the salam, he is in private communion with Allah Mighty and Majestic, as he is in prayer. And when he says the salam, the private communion specific to the prayer is cut off. So we say: if you want to supplicate to Allah, supplicate to Allah Blessed and Exalted is He after the tashahhud and before you say the salam. Even if you lengthen it greatly, as long as you are not an imam or a follower, you may lengthen it as you wish. If you remain for half an hour or more supplicating before you say the salam, there is no blame on you. But if you are an imam, you should not lengthen it for the people more than what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to do. And if you are a follower, you must follow your imam. When he says the salam, and you have done what is obligatory of the tashahhud, say the salam with him. Yes.
The Shaykh : As for the first, which is greeting after the prayer, if it happens immediately, as some people do, shaking hands with the person on their right and left as soon as they say the closing salam, and perhaps adding to that saying "May Allah accept it" or something similar, then this practice has no basis. It was not part of the guidance of the righteous predecessors, and the best guidance is the guidance of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Rightly Guided Caliphs.
As for if it happens after a voluntary prayer, and a person greets the one on his right or left, not with the intention that this is a recommended practice or that it is prescribed, then I hope there is no harm in it, because there is a benefit in it, which is uniting hearts, and one may need to ask about his condition.
As for supplication after the voluntary and obligatory prayers, it has no basis from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). For Allah the Exalted said:
Then when you have completed the prayer, remember Allah
فَإِذَا قَضَيْتُمُ الصَّلاةَ فَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَThen let him choose from the supplications whatever he wishes.
ثم ليتخيّر من الدعاء ما شاءJust as this is what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) guided us to, it is also the correct analogical reasoning and consideration, because it is more appropriate for a person to supplicate before he says the salam than after he says it. Because before he says the salam, he is in private communion with Allah Mighty and Majestic, as he is in prayer. And when he says the salam, the private communion specific to the prayer is cut off. So we say: if you want to supplicate to Allah, supplicate to Allah Blessed and Exalted is He after the tashahhud and before you say the salam. Even if you lengthen it greatly, as long as you are not an imam or a follower, you may lengthen it as you wish. If you remain for half an hour or more supplicating before you say the salam, there is no blame on you. But if you are an imam, you should not lengthen it for the people more than what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to do. And if you are a follower, you must follow your imam. When he says the salam, and you have done what is obligatory of the tashahhud, say the salam with him. Yes.