Concluding the prayer with one Tasleem

19-3-2007 | IslamWeb

Question:

As salamu aleykum, I did read somewhere that the Prophet (SAW) sometimes used to make taslim once; Sometimes, "he would salute once only, [ As salamu aleykum ] [Peace be on you] in front of his face, turning to his right side a bit, [or a little]. Is this correct? Please quote the hadeeth which proves this.

Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

 

'Aa'ishah  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  her narrated that the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) used to say Tasleem once while facing straight and leaning slightly to the right side. [Al-Haakim and At-Tirmithi]

Al-Haakim  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him classified this narration to be authentic according to the conditions set by Al-Bukhari and Muslim  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  them and Ath-Thahabi  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him is of the same view. In addition to this, Al-Albaani  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him classified it as authentic. This narration proves that it is permissible to conclude the prayer with one Tasleem.

This narration is the same as that narrated by Anas  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him that the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) used to conclude the prayer with one Tasleem. [At-Tabaraani, and Al-Albaani classified it as authentic.] 

The majority of the scholars  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  them are of the view that it is acceptable to conclude the prayer with one Tasleem based on these two narrations.

However, in general, the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) used to conclude the prayer saying Tasleem twice, one to his right hand side and one to his left hand side. Sa'd  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him said: "I used to see the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) saying Tasleem to his right hand side and to his left hand side until I could see the whiteness of his cheek [while performing the prayer behind him]." [Ahmad, Muslim, An-Nasaa'i and others]

Allaah Knows best.

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