Sitting
Sitting between the two prostrations
A short sit, and one of the densest requests in the prayer.
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي، وَارْحَمْنِي، وَاهْدِنِي، وَعَافِنِي، وَارْزُقْنِي
Rabbi ghfir lī, wa rḥamnī, wa hdinī, wa ʿāfinī, wa rzuqnī
My Master, forgive me, have mercy on me, guide me, keep me well, and provide for me.
Why it is said here
People rush this sit, but it holds five requests that cover a whole life: the past forgiven, mercy now, direction ahead, health to carry it, and provision to live on. Say it slowly once and you have asked for nearly everything you need.
ighfirroot غ ف ر
اغْفِرْ
cover over and forgive
irḥamnīroot ر ح م
ارْحَمْنِي
have mercy on me
ihdinīroot ه د ي
اهْدِنِي
guide me
ʿāfinīroot ع ف و
عَافِنِي
keep me safe and well in body and religion
irzuqnīroot ر ز ق
ارْزُقْنِي
provide for me
Sitting calmly between the two prostrations is a pillar; the wording said in it is recommended.
Where the schools differ: Shorter wordings such as 'Rabbi ghfir lī, Rabbi ghfir lī' are also authentically reported and equally acceptable.
Abū Dāwūd 850; al-Tirmidhī 284 (ḥasan)
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