Ruling on the takbeers of movement (in the prayer) and the du‘aa’ between the two prostrations

Question

Praise be to Allah.

Firstly:

The scholars differed concerning the
ruling on the takbeers of movement in the prayer and
on saying between the two prostrations, “Rabb
ighfir li (Lord forgive
me).” There are two opinions:

The first opinion, which is the view of
the majority of Hanafis, Maalikis
and Shaafa‘is, is that the takbeers
of movement and saying “Rabb ighfir li (Lord forgive me)”
between the two prostrations come under the heading of the Sunnahs
of prayer and are not obligatory parts of the prayer.

The second opinion is that they are
obligatory parts of the prayer. This is the view of the Hanbalis.

Ibn Qudaamah (may Allah have mercy on him) said in al-Mughni (1/298): The well known view narrated from Ahmad
is that the takbeer said when going down and coming
up, the tasbeehs of bowing and prostration, saying “Sami‘
Allahu liman hamidah, Rabbana wa laka al-hamd
(Allah hears those who praise Him, our Lord to You be praise)”, saying “Rabb ighfir li
(Lord forgive me)”, saying “Rabb ighfir li (Lord forgive me)”
between the two prostrations, and the first tashahhud,
are all obligatory. It is also the view of Ishaaq and
Dawood.

And it was narrated from Ahmad that it
is not obligatory, which is the view of most of the fuqaha’,
because the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) did not teach it
to the one who prayed improperly, and it is not permissible to delay explaining
something at the time when it becomes necessary. Moreover, Ibn
Qudaamah quoted a number of things to indicate that
it is obligatory:

1.The Prophet (blessings and peace
of Allah be upon him) enjoined it, and his instruction indicates that something
is obligatory.

2.He did it and he said: “Pray as
you have seen me praying.”

3.Abu Dawood
(856) narrated from ‘Ali ibn Yahya
ibn Khallaad from his
paternal uncle that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him)
said: “The prayer of one of the people is not complete unless he does wudoo’ … Then he says: Allahu
akbar, then bows.”
Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani
in Saheeh Abi Dawood.

4.Because the points at which these
adhkaar are recited are pillars or essential parts of
the prayer, dhikr at these points is obligatory, just
as there are words to be recited when standing.

With regard to the hadeeth
about the one who prayed improperly, it is mentioned in the hadeeth
that we narrated that he (the Prophet, blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) taught him that. It is something additional
that must be accepted [[cxn??] The Prophet (blessings
and peace of Allah be upon him) did not teach you all the obligatory parts of
the prayer, based on the fact that he did not teaching the tashahhud
or the salaam. So it is to be understood as meaning that he limited it to
teaching him only that which he had seen him doing improperly. End quote.

It says in al-Mawsoo
‘ah al-Fiqhiyyah (4/40):

When sitting between the two
prostrations, it is Sunnah to pray for forgiveness,
according to the Hanafis, Maalikis
and Shaafa ‘is, and it is one opinion that was
narrated from Ahmad. The basis that is to be found in the report narrated by Hudhayfah, according to which he prayed with the Prophet
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and he used to say between the two
prostrations: “Rabb ighfir li, Rabb ighfir
li (Lord forgive me, Lord forgive me).”

However, asking for forgiveness here is
not obligatory, because the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him)
did not teach it to the one who prayed improperly. The well-known view of the Hanbalis is that it is obligatory. This is also the opinion
of Ishaaq and Dawood, and aqallahu one time [??]. End quote.

This is a matter concerning which there
is a difference of opinion among the scholars. The most that can be said is
that the view of the Hanbalis, that the takbeers of movement are obligatory, is more likely to be
correct, because of the evidence mentioned above, and because the Prophet
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “The imam has been appointed
to be followed, so when he says takbeer, then say takbeer…” Narrated by Muslim, no. 411.

With regard to the du ‘aa’ between the two prostrations, the opinion of the
majority, which is that it is mustahabb, is more
likely to be correct, because there is no evidence to clearly indicate that it
is obligatory.

For more information please see the
answers to questions no. 130981
and 134965

Secondly:

it is better for
the worshipper to recite du ‘aa’s that have been
narrated in the texts between the two prostrations. With regard to adding to
the du ‘aa’s that have been narrated, or saying a du
‘aa’ that was not narrated, what appears to be the
case is that it is permissible. This has been discussed previously in the
answer to question no. 176496.

And Allah knows best.