Supplication is prescribed but not obligatory in the prayer

Q: Some people say that supplication is obligatory, meaning that the imam supplicates and the worshippers say "Ameen." Is this correct or not?

A: Supplication is prescribed, but it is not obligatory. A person supplicates in his prayer and outside of it, calling upon Allah, striving in good, and asking his Lord for forgiveness, mercy, and the rectification of intention and deeds. He asks his Lord for lawful sustenance, a good and righteous wife, and righteous offspring. He asks his Lord to admit him to Paradise and keep him away from the Fire, among other good supplications. However, it is obligatory for him to say, "My Lord, forgive me," between the two prostrations, according to a group of scholars.
As for the rest of the supplication, it is recommended (mustahabb) to supplicate at the end of the prayer before saying the closing salam. It is recommended to supplicate in prostration, and it is recommended to supplicate outside of the prayer, asking one's Lord for the good of this world and the Hereafter. All of this is recommended and sought after, but it is not obligatory.
As for what some people do of supplicating after the obligatory prayer, where the imam supplicates and then they raise their hands and say "Ameen," this has no basis. It is not what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions did. A person supplicates between himself and his Lord, the imam supplicates between himself and his Lord, and the follower does the same. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to supplicate after the prayer between himself and his Lord.
As for the imam supplicating and the followers raising their hands and saying "Ameen," this has no basis. Rather, it is one of the religious innovations (bid'ah) that must be abandoned. It is better to supplicate while in one's prayer, in prostration, and before saying the closing salam. This is because when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) taught his Companions the testimonies, he said: . That is, before saying the closing salam. And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: . And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: , and Muslim reported both of them in his Sahih.
Therefore, a Muslim should increase his supplication in prostration and at the end of the prayer before saying the closing salam. If he supplicates after the salam and after the dhikr, between himself and his Lord, there is no harm in doing so without raising his hands. This is because raising the hands in supplication after the salam of the obligatory prayer has not been transmitted from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) or from his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) , as far as we know. If he raises his hands at times after the voluntary prayers, there is no harm, or outside of prayer at any time. This is because raising the hands in supplication is among the causes of its being answered.