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Does the prayer become void if the worshipper prolongs the sitting between the two prostrations, repeating "My Lord, forgive me" ten times, to the extent that the duration of this sitting becomes equivalent to the duration of reciting Al-Fatiha and a surah while standing, with the intention of being deliberate and avoiding confusion in the number of prostrations?

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Scholars have differed regarding the ruling on prolonging the standing after bowing (i'tidal) and the sitting between the two prostrations (jalsa) with dhikr (remembrance of Allah). Many Shafi'is held that deliberately prolonging them invalidates the prayer. However, Imam Al-Nawawi preferred the permissibility of prolonging them with dhikr, citing the hadith of Hudhayfah in Sahih Muslim, which describes the prayer of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and his prolongation of the standing after bowing and the prostrations. This is what the evidence supports and is the more preponderant view.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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