The Prophet — may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him — when he concluded the prayer with salām, would not remain seated except for the time it took to say: “O Allah, You are Peace and from You is peace. Blessed are You, Possessor of majesty and honor.”
And in the narration of Ibn Numayr: “O Possessor of majesty and honor.”

Narrated by Muslim (no. 592), from the narration of ʿĀʾishah — may Allah be pleased with her.

Brief Explanation of the Hadith

The Companions — may Allah be pleased with them — were keen to follow the Prophet — may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him — in his sayings and actions, including his actions in prayer. Among this is what Mother of the Believers ʿĀʾishah — may Allah be pleased with her — reported: that when the Prophet — may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him — concluded the prayer with salām, he would not remain seated except for the time it took to say this dhikr…
The intended meaning is that he — may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him — would not prolong his sitting after the salām; rather, he would restrict himself to the prescribed dhikr mentioned in the ḥadīth. However, when women prayed behind him, he would remain seated for a short while until they had dispersed, in order to safeguard them from intermingling with men. This is established in the report of Umm Salamah — may Allah be pleased with her — recorded by al-Bukhārī.
In this noble supplication lies a lesson for the Ummah: to begin their remembrances after the prayer with glorification of Allah, Exalted is He. His saying: “Anta al-Salām” means: You are the One characterized with absolute perfection, free from all deficiency and fault. And his saying: “Wa minka al-salām” means: From You alone comes safety and well-being for Your servants from afflictions and evils, and from You is sought deliverance and security.
The meaning also includes: Grant safety to my prayer from deficiency and rejection. His saying: “Tabārakta” means: Your blessings and bounties are abundant. And his saying: “Yā Dhā al-Jalāl wa’l-Ikrām” means: O You who possess majesty and grandeur, excellence and beneficence — the One truly deserving of awe, veneration, and praise.
Thus, the ḥadīth combines two matters: clarifying the Prophet’s — may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him — practice concerning his state immediately after the salām, and teaching a comprehensive supplication that gathers praise of Allah by His Names and Attributes, along with seeking safety from Him alone. It serves as a reminder to the worshippers that prayer does not conclude merely with the salām, but is sealed with remembrance that connects the servant to his Lord and draws His pleasure and blessing.
The ḥadīth indicates the recommendation of praising Allah with this supplication following the prayer, and that when the imām concludes the ṣalāh with the salām, he should not prolong his sitting with his back to the congregation, but rather remain only for the duration of this invocation before turning toward them or facing them directly.

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Related Hadiths

Whoever says: Subḥān Allāh wa bi-ḥamdih, Subḥānaka Allāhumma wa bi-ḥamdik, Lā ilāha illā Ant, Astaghfiruka wa atūbu ilayk, in a gathering of remembrance (dhikr), it will be like a seal (of completion) upon it.

The Prophet —may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him— whenever something about a man was conveyed to him, would not say: “What is the matter with so-and-so that he says such-and-such?”

The Messenger of Allah, when he entered the mosque, would say: “In the Name of Allah. O Allah, send blessings upon Muḥammad.”

The Prophet—may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him—used to walk to the Jamarāt when stoning them, going and returning on foot.

The Prophet—may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him—would not fast in any month more than he fasted in Shaʿbān; indeed, he would fast all of Shaʿbān.

The Day of ʿĀshūrāʾ was a day that Quraysh used to fast during the pre-Islamic period of ignorance, and the Prophet used to fast it as well. When he came to Madīnah, he fasted it and commanded its observance.

The prophet would pronounce the takbīr on the day of (‘Īd) al-Fiṭr from the time he left his house until he reached the musallā.

When the imām says: ‘Allah hears those who praise Him,’ then say: ‘O Allah, our Lord, to You belongs all praise.’

When one of you is invited to a banquet, he should respond. If he is fasting, let him pray (supplicate); and if he is not fasting, let him eat.

The Talbiyah of the Messenger of Allah was: “Labbayka Allāhumma labbayk. Labbayka lā sharīka laka labbayk. Inna al-ḥamda wa al-niʿmata laka wa al-mulk.”