Supplication During Recitation in Prayer

Q: Is it permissible to ask for mercy, seek refuge, or glorify Allah when encountering relevant verses during recitation in prayer, and does this apply to both obligatory and voluntary prayers?

A: It is permissible for a person in both obligatory and voluntary prayers to ask Allah for rahmat (mercy) and seek refuge (al-ta’awwuth) when passing by verses of mercy or punishment, as well as to say tasbīḥ (glorification) when encountering a verse that contains glorification. This ruling applies whether one is the imam, praying alone, or a follower (ma’mūm) in congregation—though the follower should lower his voice while doing so.

This is based on the hadith of Ḥudhayfah, who said, “I prayed with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) one night, and he began reciting Surah al-Baqarah. I thought he would bow at the hundredth verse, but he continued—until he (Ḥudhayfah) said—when he passed by a verse that contained glorification, he glorified Allah (sabbaḥa); when he passed by a verse of supplication, he supplicated (sa’ala); and when he passed by a verse of seeking refuge, he sought refuge (ta‘awwatha).”

(Abridged; narrated by Muslim)

Additionally, Imam Aḥmad viewed that when one recites the verse,

أَلَيْسَ ذَلِكَ بِقَادِرٍ عَلَى أَنْ يُحْيِيَ الْمَوْتَى

{Is not He (Allah) able to give life to the dead?} (Qur’an 75:40) whether in prayer or outside of it, he should respond by saying, “Subḥānaka, fa-balā” (Glory be to You, indeed He is able).

Source: Sharh al-Muntaha & Kashshaf al-Qina’