What is the correct ruling regarding the timing and repetition of the Seeking of Refuge (Istia'dha) during the prayer?
Chapter on the Description of Prayer
Al-Mughni
Book of Prayer
Primary text
One narration attributed to Ahmad states that the Istia'dha is specific to the first rak'ah only. This is the position of 'Ata, al-Hasan, al-Nakha'i, and al-Thawri. The evidence cited is the Hadith of Abu Hurayrah, and the reasoning that the prayer is a single unit, making the recitation throughout the prayer equivalent to a single recitation. Therefore, reciting it once at the beginning suffices, similar to the opening supplication. According to this narration, if one forgets the Istia'dha in the first rak'ah, they perform it in the second. If one begins recitation in the second rak'ah before the Istia'dha, the Sunnah for that rak'ah has passed, and it is not performed.
Supporting text
A second narration states that the Istia'dha should be recited in every rak'ah. This is the view of Ibn Sirin and al-Shafi'i, based on the Quranic verse, 'So when you recite the Quran, seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the outcast' (Quran 16:98). This necessitates repeating the Istia'dha whenever recitation is repeated, as it is prescribed for recitation itself.