Question # 9: There are some people who, after finishing the prayer, put their hands on their foreheads for a while and recite something. Is this from Sunnah?

bismi-llahi r-raḥmani r-raḥīm,

Assalamu ‘laikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

All praise and thanks are due to Allah (سبحانه و تعالى), and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم).

Dear questioner,

First of all, we implore Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) to help us serve His cause and render our work for His sake.

I understand that some people, after finishing their fard salah, put their hands on their foreheads and recite ‘Yaa Qawiyyu’ 11 times because they believe that it is a means of strengthening one’s memory. That is an innovation (bid’ah).

When Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked about this, he replied: There is no basis for that as far as we know. There is no basis for placing the hands on the forehead after prayer. (Fataawa Noor ‘ala ad-Darb)

Similarly, I have seen men kissing their thumbnail and placing them on their eyelids when the name of Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) is mentioned. This is something that was invented by some of the Sufi orders (tareeqahs). Some deviant group quote from some unauthentic source that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said “On the Day of Judgement, I shall search for the person who used to place his thumbs on his eyes when hearing my name during the Adhan. I shall lead him into Jannah (Paradise)”. This is also an innovation (bid’ah).

The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “Beware of newly-invented matters, for every newly-invented matter is an innovation, and every innovation is a going astray.” (Narrated by Abu Dawood, classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood)

Also Narrated by Salama “I heard the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) saying, “Whoever (intentionally) ascribes to me what I have not said then (surely) let him occupy his seat in Hell-fire.” (Al-Bukhari)

In another report, Aisha’h narrated: The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said, “Whoever performs a deed that is not in accordance with our matter will have it rejected.” (Muslim)

Hence, Muslims should avoid innovations and beware of them and should strive to follow the Qur’an and Sunnah, without adding anything or taking anything away, for Allah has perfected this religion: “This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion” [Soorah al-Maa’idah, 5:3]

The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) did not die until he had conveyed the message from his Lord in full. He did not leave anything good but he enjoined it upon us, and he did not leave anything bad but he forbade it to us and warned us against it.

Allahu A’lam (Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) knows best) and all Perfections belong to Allah, and all mistakes belong to me alone. May Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) forgive me, Ameen.

Wassalaam