Rulings on the closing salam and turning away after the completion of prayer

This is a message from 'Abd al-Raqib Mu'ti in Riyadh. He asks: What is the ruling on saying the salam to the left after the completion of prayer? And what is the ruling on turning to the left as well?
Answer: The majority of scholars hold that the obligatory act is a single salam, said to the right. The more correct view is that two salams are required, even though this contradicts the opinion of the majority. This is because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to say two salams and would say: .
Therefore, it is obligatory for the imam, and likewise for the follower and the one praying alone, to say two salams. It is better to say them to the right and to the left. One turns to the right and says: "Peace be upon you and Allah's mercy," and likewise to the left. This is the prescribed practice, and it is obligatory in the most correct of the scholars' opinions, meaning the two salams. As for turning to the right and left, this is recommended and is the better practice.
As for turning away after the salam to the right and left, there is no blame. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to turn away to the right and to the left. All of this is established. If one turns away to the right, there is nothing wrong with it, or to the left, there is nothing wrong with it. It is established that he (peace and blessings be upon him) would sometimes turn away to the right and sometimes to the left from his place, may the prayers and peace of Allah be upon him. Yes.
The presenter: But if one starts with the salam to the left, is there anything wrong with that?
The Shaykh: It is valid, but it contradicts the Sunnah. It contradicts the Sunnah.
The presenter: Meaning, one is not held accountable for that?
The Shaykh: No, it is valid, but he has contradicted the Sunnah. Yes.
Turning is recommended and not obligatory. Also, there is a matter that may be obscure to some people, which is: the matter of the imam when he says the salam from the prayer. The Sunnah is that he turns to the followers and gives them his face, and he does not prolong his remaining facing the qiblah. This is because he only turned his back to them for the sake of the prayer. So when he is finished with it, the need is gone. Therefore, it is prescribed for him to face them and direct his face toward their faces. This is the religious etiquette. But this is after he seeks forgiveness three times, and after he says: "O Allah, You are Peace, and from You is peace. Blessed are You, O Owner of Majesty and Honor." After this, he turns to them and gives them his face, facing them, not to the right or left, but facing them directly, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did. But this is after he says: "I seek forgiveness from Allah, three times. O Allah, You are Peace, and from You is peace. Blessed are You, O Owner of Majesty and Honor!" The imam says this, then turns to the followers and gives them his face, facing them directly. Yes. If he wishes, he turns away to the right, and if he wishes, he turns away to the left. Yes. But he faces them directly. Yes. Then he comes with the rest of the dhikr. When he turns away, he comes with the rest of the dhikr: "There is no god but Allah alone, with no partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He is over all things competent. There is no power and no strength except by Allah. There is no god but Allah. We do not worship except Him. His is the blessing and His is the favor and His is the good praise. There is no god but Allah, sincere to Him in religion, even if the disbelievers dislike. O Allah, there is no one who can prevent what You have given, and there is no one who can give what You have withheld, and the wealth of the wealthy does not benefit him against You." It is established that he (peace be upon him) used to say this after the salam in the Zuhr, 'Asr, Maghrib, 'Isha', and Fajr prayers. It is prescribed for the follower, the imam, and the one praying alone to recite these prescribed dhikr. Then he says after that: "Glory be to Allah, praise be to Allah, and Allah is the Greatest" thirty-three times. This is the better practice. After this, he says: "Glory be to Allah, praise be to Allah, and Allah is the Greatest" thirty-three times, so that the total is ninety-nine. Then he concludes all of this with: "There is no god but Allah alone, with no partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He is over all things competent." It came in the hadith: and this is a great virtue. And if he wishes, he says: "Glory be to Allah, praise be to Allah, there is no god but Allah, and Allah is the Greatest" twenty-five times. This is a type of dhikr: "Glory be to Allah, praise be to Allah, there is no god but Allah, and Allah is the Greatest" twenty-five times. All of this is prescribed and good. Yes.
The presenter: But regarding the tahlil and takbir, is it after the five prayers or after some of them?
The Shaykh: No, after all of them, after the five prayers. But the Maghrib and Fajr prayers are increased by ten tahlils. He says: "There is no god but Allah alone, with no partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise. He gives life and He causes death, and He is over all things competent" ten times after the Maghrib and after the Fajr as an addition. Yes.
The presenter: Some people, regarding the turning away of the imam or the turning of the imam to the followers, say: It is not permissible for the follower to leave the mosque until the imam turns to him. Is this correct or not?
The Shaykh: It is possible, and the closest view is that it is not correct. But it is recommended for him, it is recommended for him, and the better thing for him is not to turn away, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): . The well-known meaning of "turning away" here is the salam, not turning away to them. The well-known meaning of "turning away" is the salam, just as Thawban said: "Turned away" means "said the salam."
As for turning away to them, the better thing is that they wait until he turns to them. This is the better thing. But if they stand up before that, the apparent view is that there is no blame, since "turning away" in the hadith refers to the salam. Yes. This is the apparent meaning of the hadiths. Yes.