Three Takbeers to end your Salaah = bid`ah

My whole life, I thought that when you end your salaah, you MUST do “three takbeers”. Later, I
found out that it is just a “mustaHab” act to end your salaah. What we are going to do is examine this
practice of “three takbeers to end your salaah”.

Is this an act of finishing your salaah or part of something else? Is there ANY SaHeeH hadeeth that
alludes to this? And what actions are we suppose to do when we end our salaah?

Here is the section that alludes to this practice. (taken from my personal copy of Wasaa’il Al-Shee`ah)

Wasaa’il Al-Shee`ah, vol. 4, pg. 1030 – 1031, hadeeth # 8419 & 8420
 ِ ‫ير َث ََلثا َو ال ُّدعَاءِ ِبا ْل َمأْث‬
‫ور‬ ِ ‫ص ََل ِة َو ال َّت ْك ِب‬
َّ ‫اغ مِنَ ال‬ ِ ‫الر ْأ‬
ِ ‫س ِع ْن َد ا ْل َف َر‬ َّ َ‫ب َر ْف ِع ا ْل َي َد ْي ِن َف ْوق‬
ِ ‫است ِْح َبا‬
ْ ‫ َباب‬-41

14 – Chapter on the desirability of raising the hands over the head at the finishing of the
salaah, and takbeer thrice, and du`aa by what has been handed down.

َّ َّٓ‫ج أَةَا ػَةِ ِد اهوََِّ ع إِذَا ضَو‬

ُ َِٖ‫ل َرأ‬
َ ‫ل كَا‬
ِ ‫ً اهْجَيَّا‬
َ ‫ً ِيِِرَا‬
ِ ِ‫ً ضَفَّْاًَ ة‬
ِ َ‫حشًَِِٖ ةِِإشٌَِادِ ٍِ ػ‬
ُ ْ‫ً اه‬
ِ ِ‫ِٕ ة‬
ِّ ‫ً ػَو‬
ُ ِ‫يُحَيَّ ُد ة‬
َِِ‫ق َر ْأش‬
َ ِّ َ‫ضوَاحِ َِ َٖرِفَ ُغ َٖدَِٖ َِ ف‬
َ ً
ِ ‫ؽ ِي‬
َ َ‫َفر‬

ََُ‫ً يِ ْدو‬
َ ‫جرَاًَ ػًَِ ضَفَّْا‬
ِ ٌَ ِٕ‫ً أَة‬
ِ ِ‫ً اة‬
ِ َ‫شؼِٖ ٍد ػ‬
َ ً
ِ ِ‫حشًَِِٖ ة‬
ُ ْ‫ً اه‬
ِ َ‫خ ةِِإشٌَِادٍِِ ػ‬
ُ َِّٖ‫َّ رََّا ٍُ اهش‬

1 – Muhammad b. `Ali b. al-Husayn by his isnad from Safwan b. Mihran the camel driver. He said: I saw
Aboo `Abdillaah ‫ عليه السالم‬when he prayed and ended his salaah (that he would) raise his hands above his
head.

And the Shaykh narrated it by his isnaad from al-Husayn b. Sa`eed from Ibn Abee Najran from Safwaan
likewise.

Source:

1. Al-Sadooq, Man Laa YaHDuruh Al-Faqeeh, vol. 1, pg. 325, hadeeth # 952
2. Al-Toosi, Tahdheeb Al-aHkaam, vol. 2, pg. 106, hadeeth # 171
3. Al-`Aamilee, Wasaa’il Al-Shee`ah, vol. 6, pg. 452, hadeeth # 8419

Grading:

1. Al-Majlisi said this hadeeth is SaHeeH

 Milaadh Al-Akhyaar, vol. 3, pg. 613
2. Al-Majlisi I (Majlisi’s Father) said this hadeeth is SaHeeH
 RawDah Al-Muttaqoon, vol. 2, pg. 369

ًَِ‫ً يَاِهمٍ ػ‬
ِ ِ‫ً يُحَيَّ ِد ة‬
ِ ِ‫جؼِ َفرِ ة‬
َ ً
ِ َ‫ِٔ ػ‬
ِّ َّ‫ح ِيزَتَ ةًِِ اهْلَاشِ ِى ا ْه َؼو‬
َ ً
ِ َ‫ً يُحَيَّ ٍد ػ‬
ِ ِ‫حيَ َد ة‬
ِ َ‫ً أ‬
ِ ِ‫ػوِِّٕ ة‬
َ ًَِ‫ل ػ‬
ِ ‫َّ فِٕ ا ْه ِؼَو‬
َِّٔ‫ج هِأَةِٕ ػَةِ ِد اهوََِّ ع هِأ‬
ُ ْ‫ل كُو‬
َ ‫ػ َيرَ كَا‬
ُ ً
ِ ِ‫ل ة‬
ِ ‫َض‬
َّ ‫ً ا ْهيُف‬
ِ َ‫ً شٌَِاًٍ ػ‬
ِ ِ‫ً يُحَيَّ ِد ة‬
ِ َ‫ج ػ‬
ِ ‫ً زَِٖ ٍد اهزََّّٖا‬
ِ ِ‫حشًَِِٖ ة‬
ُ ْ‫ً اه‬
ِ ِ‫يُحَيَّ ِد ة‬
‫اهظ ِِ َر‬
ُّ َِ ِ‫ ضَوَّٓ ةِأَضِحَاة‬-َ‫ِٕ ص هَيَّا فَحَحَ يَنَّث‬
َّ ‫ًَ اهٌَّة‬
َّ ‫ل هِأ‬
َ ‫اهحشِوِٖىِ َدوَاداً َٖرِفَغُ ِةَِا َٖدَِٖ َِ فَلَا‬
َّ ‫ػِوَّ ٍث ُٖن َِّة ُر ا ْهيُضَوِّٕ َةؼِ َد‬
َ‫ضر‬
َ ٌَ َّ ٍُ َ‫ج َز َّػِد‬
َ ٌَْ‫ هَا ِإهَ ََ إِهَّا اهوَّ َُ َّحِدَ ٍُ َّحِدَ ٍُ أ‬-َ‫ َفوَيَّا شَوَّ َى رَفَ َغ َٖدَِٖ َِ َّ ن ََّة َر َدوَاداً َّ كَال‬-ِ‫ج ِر اهَْأشَِّد‬
َ َ‫ػٌِْ َد اهْح‬
-ٌ‫ُل شَِٕ ٍء كَدِٖر‬
ِّ ‫ػوَٓ ن‬
َ َّ ُُ َّ ‫ج‬
ُ ِٖ‫حيِ ُد ُٖحِِٖٕ َّ ُٖي‬
َ ْ‫م َّ هَ َُ اه‬
ُ ‫ب َّحِدَ ٍُ َفوَ َُ ا ْه ُي ْو‬
َ ‫حزَا‬
ِ َ‫ب اهْأ‬
َ َ‫غو‬
َ َّ ٍُ َ‫َز جٌُْد‬
َّ ‫ػَةِدَ ٍُ َّ أَػ‬
‫م‬
َ ‫ل َذِه‬
َ ‫ً َف َؼ‬
ِ َ‫ًِ ي‬
َّ ‫ضوَا ٍت يَنْحُّةَ ٍث فَإ‬
َ ‫ُل‬
ِّ ‫ل فِٕ دُ ُة ِر ن‬
َ ِّ َ‫اهحنْةِٖ َر َّ َُذَا اهْل‬
َّ ‫ل هَا حَدَػُّا َُذَا‬
َ ‫ػوَٓ أَضِحَاةِ َِ فَلَا‬
َ َ‫ُى أَكْ َةل‬
َّ ‫د‬
ٍِِ‫شوَا ِى َّ جٌُْد‬
ِ ‫ػوَٓ حَلَِّْٖ ِث اهِْإ‬
َ َٓ‫ش ْن ِر اهوَّ َِ َحؼَاه‬
ُ ً
ِ ِ‫ب ػَوََِِٖ ي‬
ُ ِ‫ً كَ ِد أَدَّْ يَا َٖج‬
َ ‫ل نَا‬
َ َِّ‫شوِٖىِ َّ كَالَ َُذَا اهْل‬
ِ ‫اهح‬
َّ ‫َةؼِ َد‬
2 – And in al-`Ilal from `Ali b. Ahmad b. Muhammad from Hamza b. al-Qasim al-`Alawi from Ja`far b.
Muhammad b. Malik from Muhammad b. al-Husayn b. Zayd the oil seller from Muhammad b. Sinan from
al-Mufaddal b. `Umar. He said: I said to Aboo `Abdillaah ‫عليه السالم‬: For which reason does the person
doing salaah do takbeer thrice after the tasleem, raising his hands with it? So he said: (It is) because when
the Prophet ‫ صلّى هللا عليه وآله‬conquered Makka, he prayed the dhuhr with his companions at the Black Stone,
and when he had done tasleem he raised his hands and did takbeer thrice. And he said: “There is no god
but Allah, He alone, He alone. His fulfilled His promise, and helped His servant, and supported His army,
and defeated the confederates He alone. So for Him is the kingdom and for Him is the praise. He gives
life and He makes die, (and He makes die and He gives life, – in al-`Ilal) and He is powerful over
everything.” Then he turned to him companions, and he said: Do not leave this takbeer and this saying at
the end of every written salaah, for verily whoever does that after the tasleem and says this saying has
fulfilled what was obligatory upon him of thanks to Allah ta`ala upon (i.e. for) the strengthening of Islam
and its army.

Source:

1. Al-Sadooq, `Ilal Al-Sharaa’i`, vol. 2, ch. 78, pg. 360, hadeeth # 1

2. Al-`Aamilee, Wasaa’il Al-Shee`ah, vol. 6, pg. 452 – 453, hadeeth # 8420
3. Al-Kashaanee, Al-Waafee, vol. 8, pg. 791
4. Muhaddith Al-Noori, Mustadarak Al-Wasaa’il, vol. 5, ch. 12, pg. 52, hadeeth # 5342

As you can see only 1 of the 2 aHaadeeth that are presented as the “source” for doing three takbeers
after salaah is actually talking about doing three takbeers. The first Haadeeth, which is SaHeeH, doesn’t
talk about doing three takbeers at all, but it is talking about raising your hands (most likely your hands
together with the palms facing towards the ceiling) above your head (fawqa ra’s).

Now, we move on to the second hadeeth that discusses the three takbeers. First, we will break down the
isnaad provided, and then we will break down the actual hadeeth to see what it is really saying.

The isnaad provided has 4 weak points (in red), and here are the “weak links” in the chain.

ٍ‫ ػَوِِّٕ ةًِِ أَحِيَدَ ةًِِ يُحَيَّد‬is Majhool (Unknown) according to:

1. Al-Khoei, Mu`jam Rijaal Al-Hadeeth, vol. 11, pg. 252, person # 7897

ٍ‫ جَؼِفَرِ ةًِِ يُحَيَّدِ ةًِِ يَاِهم‬is Da`eef Jiddan (Very Weak) according to:

1. Al-Najaashee, Rijaal, pg. 122, person # 313

2. Ibn Al-GhaDaa’iree, Kitaab Al-Du`afaa, pg. 48
3. Al-Toosi, Rijaal, pg. 418, person # 6037 (Toosi said he is thiqah, but the people of Qum said he is
weak)
4. Al-Hillee, Al-KhulaaSah, pg. 210, person # 3 (Hillee said you should NOT act upon his
narrations)

ًٍ‫ يُحَيَّدِ ةًِِ شٌَِا‬is Da`eef (Weak) according to:

1. Al-Toosi, Fihrist, pg. 407, person # 620

2. Al-Toosi, Rijaal, pg. 364, person # 5394
3. Al-Najaashee, Rijaal, pg. 328, person # 888
4. Al-GhaDaa’iree, pg. 92, person # 130

َ‫ اهْيُفَضَّلِ ةًِِ ػُيَر‬is Da`eef (Weak) according to:

1. Ibn GhaDaa’iree, Kitaab Al-Du`afaa, pg. 88, person # 117

2. Al-Najaashee, Rijaal, pg. 416, person # 1112
 3. Al-Hillee, Al-KhulaaSah, pg. 258, person # 1

Based off of this isnaad, this hadeeth can be graded as Da`eef Jiddan (Very Weak). Usually in fiqhi
matters, that is when the isnaad of aHaadeeth are looked at VERY closely.

Some people might argue that this is a mustaHab (recommended) act, so no need to go through this
strenuous process of looking at the isnaad (chain of narrators). That’s okay, let’s look at the matn
(content) of the hadeeth, and see what is the hadeeth saying.

Even if you want to follow that hadeeth, the three takbeers are done as a ta`qeeb (acts done AFTER salaah
is done). If you notice the scanned image of Wasaa’il, on the top of the second image provided, it says that
it is in the section of Ta`qeeb, which are things done after salaah, such as tasbeeH, du`aa, etc.

If you read the hadeeth carefully, this is how the procedure is supposed to be.
1. Finish your salaah with a ONE tasleem (or two depending on if it is a jamaa`ah or a furada
(individual))
 This will be discussed a little later
2. After your salaah is done, raise your hand above your head (fawqa al-ra's)
 This is based off of the previous narration which says to put your hands above your head
3. THEN, you recite three takbeers
4. After that, you recite the du`aa mentioned in the hadeeth

Here is what Al-Toosi has said concerning the 3 takbeers, this is found in the section of
Ta`qeeb (things done AFTER salaah)

َٖ‫ «اهوَّ أنةر» دالخ يرّاج ٖرفغ ةِا ٖد‬:ٍ‫ب هَ أً ٖلّل كةل كٖايَ يً يضوّا‬
ّ ‫فإذا اٌضرف يً ضالحَ ٖشحح‬
،ٌَٖ‫إهٓ شحيحٕ أذ‬
"One is recommended to say before standing up to leave the place of prayer. Raise his hands up to the
earlobes and say 'Allaahu Akbar' three times…"
Source:
 Al-Toosi, Al-Nihaayah fee Mujarrad Al-Fiqh wa Al-Fataawa, pg. 84

As you can see, this action (three takbeers) in NO WAY ends your salaah, thinking that this action is
INDEED ending your salaah is a bid`ah. Also, you can see that this hadeeth provided does not talk about
the “up and down” motion of your hands three times, as you see some of our shee`ahs do.

Now, the question arises, if this (three takbeers) doesn’t end your salaah, then what action(s) end your
salaah?

Here are narrations that show that the ENDING of your salaah is the tasleem.
 ِٕ‫ش ِيؼِجُ أَةَا ػَةِدِ اهوََِّ ع َٖلُّلُ ف‬
َ َ‫شيَاػَثَ ػًَِ أَةِٕ ةَضِٖرٍ كَال‬
َ ًَِ‫حشًَُِٖ ةًُِ شَؼِٖدٍ ػًَِ ػُ ْديَاًَ ةًِِ ػِٖشَٓ ػ‬
ُ ْ‫اه‬
َّ‫شلْ أٌَْفََُ دُىَّ هْ َٖرِجِغِ َفوُْٖحِى‬
ِ ْ‫خرُذِ َفوْ َٖغ‬
ْ َْٖ‫ػفَ كَالَ َفو‬
َ َ‫اهر ْنؼَحًَِِٖ كَ ِةلَ أًَِ َٖحَشََِّدَ ر‬
َّ ِٕ‫جوَسَ ف‬
َ ‫جلٍ ضَوَّٓ اهضُّةِحَ َفوَيَّا‬
ُ َ‫ر‬
ُ‫التسِلِيم‬
َّ ِ‫ضوَاحََُ فَإِنَّ آخِرَ الصَّلَاة‬
َ

He said: I heard Aboo `Abdillaah (as) saying regarding a man who prayed as-subh (fajr), and when he sat
in the two rak`at before he did tashahhud he had a nosebleed. He said: So he is to leave and wash his
nose, then he is to return and complete his salaah, for the end of salaah is the tasleem.

Source:

1. Al-Toosi, Tahdheeb Al-aHkaam, vol. 2, ch. 15, pg. 320, hadeeth # 163

Grading:

1. Al-Majlisi said this hadeeth is Muwaththaq (Reliable)

 Milaadh Al-Akhyaar, vol. 4, pg. 481

ًَِ‫حشًَِِٖ ةًِِ ػُدْيَاًَ ػ‬

ُ ْ‫ً اه‬
ِ َ‫ب ػ‬
َ َُّّٖ‫ً أ‬
ِ ِ‫ً فَضَاهَ َث ة‬
ِ َ‫ً شَؼِٖ ٍد ػ‬
ِ ِ‫ً ة‬
ِ َِٖ‫حش‬
ُ ْ‫ً اه‬
ِ َ‫ً يُحَيَّ ٍد ػ‬
ِ ِ‫حيَ َد ة‬
ِ َ‫ً أ‬
ِ َ‫ً َٖحَِٖٓ ػ‬
ُ ِ‫يُحَيَّ ُد ة‬
ًِِ‫اهضوَا ِت َّ إ‬
َّ ًَ ِ‫ج اهوَّ ََ ةِ َِ َّ اهٌَّةَِّٕ ص َفُِ َّ ي‬
َ ِ‫ُل يَا َذ َنر‬
ُّ ‫ل هِٕ أَةُّ ػَةِ ِد اهوَّ َِ ع ن‬
َ ‫ِٕ كَالَ كَا‬
ِّ ‫حوَة‬
َ ْ‫ً اه‬
ِ َ‫شنَاًَ ػ‬
ِ ‫ً ُي‬
ِ ِ‫اة‬
َ‫ػوَٓ ػِةَا ِد اهوَّ َِ اهضَّاهِحًَِٖ فَ َق ِد انْصَرَفْت‬
َ َّ ‫ػوٌََِٖا‬
َ ‫اهشوَا ُى‬
َّ -َ‫ُكوْج‬

He said: Aboo `Abdillaah (as) said to me: Whenever you mention (or, remember) Allah by it and the
Prophet (pbuh), then it is from salaah. And if you say “as-salam `alayna wa `ala `ibadillahi s-saliheen”
then you have departed (i.e. you’ve completed your salaah).

Source:

1. Al-Kulayni, Al-Kaafi, vol. 3, pg. 337-338, hadeeth # 6

Grading:

1. Al-Majlisi said this hadeeth is SaHeeH

 Mir’aat Al-`Uqool, vol. 15, pg. 162

Another question that arises is, what type of action / motion should we do our tasleem in?

If you are the leader of the prayer or if you are praying alone then you do tasleem ONCE. And if
you are follower (ma’moon) in the jamaa`ah, then you do tasleem TWICE. Here are the aHaadeeth that
talk about this.

ًَِ‫شوِٖيَثً ػ‬
ِ ‫شنَاًَ ػًَِ أَةِٕ ةَضِٖرٍ كَالَ كَالَ أَةُّ ػَةِدِ اهوََِّ ع إِذَا نٌُْجَ فِٕ ضَفٍّ َفشَوِّىِ َح‬
ِ ُ‫َّ ِةَِذَا اهِْإشٌَِادِ ػًَِ اةًِِ ي‬
ُ‫شوِٖيَثً َّ أٌَْجَ ُيشِحَلْ ِةل‬
ِ ‫ػوَ ِٖمَ َّ إِذَا نٌُْجَ ِإيَاياً َفشَوِّىِ َح‬
َ ُ‫شوِٖيَثً ػًَِ َٖشَارِمَ هِأًََّ ػًَِ َٖشَا ِرمَ يًَِ ُٖشَوِّى‬
ِ ‫َٖيِٖ ٌِمَ َّ َح‬
ِ‫اهْلِ ِةوَث‬
 He said: Aboo `Abdillaah (as) said: If you are in a row, then do a tasleem from to your right and a tasleem
to your left, for to your left is someone who is doing tasleem upon you. And if you are an imam, then do a
tasleem while you are facing qibla.

Source:

1. Al-Kulayni, Al-Kaafi, vol. 3, pg. 338, hadeeth # 7

Grading:

1. Al-Majlisi said this hadeeth is SaHeeH

 Mir’aat Al-`Uqool, vol. 15, pg. 163

From this hadeeth, you can see that you do two tasleems if you are in a row and one if you are an
Imaam or reading alone. Now, when you do your tasleem, DO NOT move your head SO MUCH to the
right and to the left as if you are looking over your shoulder, but you slightly move it to the right and to the
left. (NOTE: You are always doing tasleem to the right)

One FINAL question arises, what should you do if you are in jamaa`ah, and you are at the VERY left end
of the row, and NO ONE is to the left of you, just people to the right. The answer can be found from this
hadeeth.

ِ‫َّ ػٌََُْ ػًَِ ضَفَّْاًَ ػًَِ يٌَْضُّرٍ كَالَ كَالَ أَةُّ ػَةِدِ اهوََِّ ع اهِْإيَاىُ ُٖشَوِّىُ َّاحِدَتً َّ يًَِ َّرَاءٍَُ ُٖشَوِّىُ ادٌَْحًَِِٖ فَإًِِ هَى‬
ً‫شيَاهَِِ أَحَدٌ شَوَّىَ َّاحِدَت‬
ِ ًَِ‫َٖنًُِ ػ‬

He said: Aboo `Abdillaah (as) said: The imam does tasleem once and whoso is behind him does tasleem
twice. So if there is there no one to his left, he does tasleem once.

Source:

1. Al-Toosi, Tahdheeb Al-aHkaam, vol. 2, ch. 8, pg. 93, hadeeth # 114

2. Al-Toosi, Al-IstibSaar, vol. 1, ch. 199, pg. 346, hadeeth # 2

Grading:

1. Al-Majlisi said this hadeeth is SaHeeH

 Milaadh Al-Akhyaar, vol. 3, pg. 573

From this hadeeth, the final question is answered, if there is NO ONE to the left of you in a row (i.e. you
are at the left end of a row), then you will only do ONE tasleem (to your right).

In conclusion, thinking that the “three takbeers” end your salaah, you are introducing a bid`ah, because
the “three takbeers” do not in ANY way end your salaah, because your salaah is complete / ended when
you do tasleem (either once or twice depending on which type of salaah you are doing and where you are
in the jamaa`ah).

‫اهشالى ػوٖنى‬