The Book of Mosques and Places of Prayer-06a
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The reciter: And Ishaq ibn Ibrahim narrated to us, Abu 'Amir al-'Uqdi informed us, 'Abd Allah ibn Ja'far narrated to us, from Isma'il ibn Muhammad, from 'Amir ibn Sa'd, from his father, who said: Mishkat al-Masabih 943.
The Shaykh : This also indicates the prescription of turning the head in the two closings of the prayer. One says: "Peace be upon you and Allah's mercy," "Peace be upon you and Allah's mercy," to the right and to the left. This is part of perfect justice. It is part of perfect justice to greet those on his right and those on his left, because if he were to limit it to the right, that would be an injustice to those on the left. And if he were to greet straight ahead, the praying people would not benefit from his greeting, whereas he intends to include them in his greeting. For this reason, he (peace and blessings be upon him) used to greet to his right and to his left. The apparent meaning of the hadith is that the greeting begins with the turning of the head. As for what some imams do, where they say "Peace be upon you" and then say "and Allah's mercy" to the right, then say "Peace be upon you" while facing the qiblah, and then say "and Allah's mercy" while facing the left, there is no basis for this.
The questioner : Some scholars hold that the two closings of the prayer are a recommended practice (sunnah). They cited as evidence the hadith of the one who messed up his prayer, saying that it is not possible to delay the explanation until after the time of need has passed, because if it had been obligatory, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would have clarified that.
he used to see God’s Messenger giving the salutation* to his right and his left, so that he could see the whiteness of his cheek
كنت أرى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يسلم عن يمينه وعن يساره حتى أرى بياض خدهThe Shaykh : This also indicates the prescription of turning the head in the two closings of the prayer. One says: "Peace be upon you and Allah's mercy," "Peace be upon you and Allah's mercy," to the right and to the left. This is part of perfect justice. It is part of perfect justice to greet those on his right and those on his left, because if he were to limit it to the right, that would be an injustice to those on the left. And if he were to greet straight ahead, the praying people would not benefit from his greeting, whereas he intends to include them in his greeting. For this reason, he (peace and blessings be upon him) used to greet to his right and to his left. The apparent meaning of the hadith is that the greeting begins with the turning of the head. As for what some imams do, where they say "Peace be upon you" and then say "and Allah's mercy" to the right, then say "Peace be upon you" while facing the qiblah, and then say "and Allah's mercy" while facing the left, there is no basis for this.
The questioner : Some scholars hold that the two closings of the prayer are a recommended practice (sunnah). They cited as evidence the hadith of the one who messed up his prayer, saying that it is not possible to delay the explanation until after the time of need has passed, because if it had been obligatory, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would have clarified that.