What is the ruling regarding the utterance of the Taslim (final greeting) in prayer?
Chapter on the Description of Prayer
Al-Mughni
Book of Prayer
Primary text
It is desirable (*mustahabb*) to omit elongation (*hadhf*) in the utterance of the Taslim, meaning one should not prolong its pronunciation. This practice is established as a Sunnah based on the narration from Abu Hurayrah recorded by Abu Dawud and Al-Tirmidhi. Imam Ahmad considered this hadith to be Hasan Sahih. The understanding of this ruling, as stated by Ibn al-Mubarak, is to avoid prolonging the sound. This view is adopted by the scholars. Imam Ahmad also explicitly stated that omitting elongation in the Taslim is the Sunnah, defining it as not extending the voice in its pronunciation.
Supporting text
A dissenting view suggests that the meaning of the hadith concerning 'omitting' (*hadhf*) is to conceal or keep the second Taslim quiet. However, the sound opinion is that 'omitting' means dropping a part of the word, while 'making it decisive' (*jazm*) means cutting it off, and both concepts align with avoiding elongation, whereas concealment is contrary to this.