Taslim (Concluding Greeting)

Taslim (Arabic: تسليم) is the concluding peace greeting "As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah" (Peace and Allah's mercy be upon you), which marks the formal end of the Islamic prayer. With the taslim, the worshipper leaves the prayer's sacred state (ihram) and returns to the daily state.

In Shia Islam, the minimal taslim formula is: "As-salamu alaykum" (Peace be upon you), said once with the face turned to the right or straight ahead. According to Shia fiqh, it is recommended (mustahab) but not obligatory to add "wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh". Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) explained: "Taslim is the last part of the prayer — when you have said taslim, the prayer is finished" (Tahdhib al-Ahkam by Shaykh al-Tusi, vol. 2).

There is a theological difference between Shia and Sunni practice regarding taslim. In Shia fiqh, taslim is considered wajib (obligatory) according to most modern scholars, while in earlier jurisprudence it was debated whether taslim was merely mustahab.

It is recommended after taslim to recite takbir three times (Allahu Akbar with hands raised to the ears), followed by Tasbihat al-Zahra (Fatimah al-Zahra's tasbih), which is one of the most important dhikr practices in Shia Islam after the prayer.