Question # 97: Assalam aliekum , After fard salat (i.e. after saying salam), some people make Dua while others say only Tasbih Fatmi. Some people say that making Dua after salat is Bidat. Can we make dua’a after salat.

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.

Shorter Answer: There is no authentic report either from Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) or his companions (رضي الله عنه) that they raise their hands in supplication after the obligatory prayers and, therefore, such as act is considered bida’h (innovation). However, there is no objection in supplicating without raising hands because some ahadith were reported to that effect. On the other hand, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) offered most of the du’aa’s that are connected to the prayer during the prayer, and he commanded us to offer them during it. A list of different du’aa (supplication) during salah as well as adhkar (remembrance) after tasleem have been mentioned in the long answer. Also, a link has been provided to a compilation of many authentic du’aa and adhkar for various occasions within and outside salah in ebook form.

Long Answer: 

TASBIH FATIMA

First of all, for the knowledge of the readers, Tasbih Fatima as referred to in the question, has been derived from the following hadith:

Narrated `Ali (رضي الله عنه): Fatima (رضي الله عنه) complained about the blisters on her hand because of using a mill-stone. She went to ask the Prophet for a servant, but she did not find him (at home) and had to inform `Aishah (رضي الله عنه) of her need. When he came, `Aishah (رضي الله عنه) informed him about it. `Ali (رضي الله عنه) added: The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) came to us when we had gone to our beds. When I was going to get up, he said, “‘Stay in your places,” and sat between us till I felt the coolness of the feet on my chest. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) then said, “Shall I not tell you of a thing which is better for you than a servant? When you (both) go to your beds, say ‘Allahu Akbar’ thirty-four times, and ‘Subhan Allah’ thirty-three times, ‘Al hamdu ‘illah’ thirty-three times, for that is better for you than a servant.” Ibn Seereen said, “Subhan Allah’ (is to be said for) thirty-four times.” (Al-Bukhari)

ACT OF BID’AH (INNOVATION)

al-Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baz said: “It has not been authentically reported from the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) that he used to raise his hands after the obligatory prayers, nor has it been authentically reported from his Companions (رضي الله عنه) as far as we know. As for the action of some people in raising their hands after the obligatory prayers, it is bida’h (innovation) without any basis….” (Fatawa Islamiyah)

Aisha’h (رضي الله عنه) 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)

The Permanent Committee said: “…As for supplication without raising the hands, there is no objection to it because some ahadith have been reported to that effect.” (Fatawa Islamiyah)

The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) offered most of the du’aa’s that are connected to the prayer during the prayer, and he commanded us to offer them during it. This befits the state of the one who is praying, for he is facing his Lord and conversing with Him so long as he is praying. When he says the salaam, that conversation comes to a close, and he is no longer standing before Him and close to Him… (Islamqa.info)

DU’AA (SUPPLICATIONS) DURING SALAH

With regard to the points during the prayer at which du’aa’ should be offered are as follows:

  • After the opening takbeer of the prayer and before starting to recite al-Faatihah. This is called Du’aa’ al-Istiftaah (opening supplication): It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) said: When the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) started to pray, he would remain silent for a while. I said: “May my father and mother be sacrificed for you, O Messenger of Allah. What do you say when you are silent between the takbeer and recitation?” He said: “I say: Allaahumma baa’id bayni wa bayna khataayaaya kama baa’adta bayna al-mashriqi wa’l-maghrib. Allaahumma naqqini min khataayaaya kama yunaqqa al-thawb al-abyad min al-danas. Allaahumma ighsilni min khataayaaya bi’l-thalji wa’l-maa’i wa’l-barad (O Allah, put a great distance between me and my sins, as great as the distance You have made between the East and the West. O Allah, cleanse me of sin as a white garment is cleansed from filth. O Allah, wash away my sins with snow and water and hail).” (Narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim) (You can also refer to my answer to Question # 53)
  • Whilst in ruku’ (bowing): The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) used to say: “Subhaanak Allaahumma Rabbanaa wa bi hamdika Allaahumma ighfir li (Glory and praise be to You, O Allah our Lord. O Allah, forgive me).” (Narrated by al-Bukhari, 761 and Muslim from the hadith of ‘Aa’ishah (رضي الله عنه))
  • During sujud (prostration): This is the best of du’aa because the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “The closest that any one of you may be to his Lord is when he is prostrating, so say a lot of du’aa at that time.” (Narrated by Muslim from the hadith of Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه))
  • Between the two prostrations: One should say: “Allaahumma ighfir li warhamni wajburni wahdini warzuqni (O Allah, forgive me, have mercy on me, enrich me, guide me and grant me provision).” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, Ibn Maajah, from the hadith of Ibn ‘Abbas (رضي الله عنه); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi) And there are other du’aa’s as well.
  • After the tashahhud and before the salaam: The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “When any one of you has finished the last tashahhud, let him seek refuge with Allah from four things and say: Allaahumma inni a’oodhu bika min ‘adhaabi jahannam wa min ‘adhaab il-qabri wa min fitnat il-mahyaa wa’l-mamaat wa min sharri fitnat il-maseeh il-dajjaal (O Allah, I seek refuge with You from the torment of Hell and from the torment of the grave and from the trials of life and death and from the evil of the trial of the Dajjal).” (Narrated by al-Bukhari; Muslim from the hadith of Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه)) Then after that, he may pray for whatever he likes of the good things of this world and the Hereafter because of the hadith of Ibn Mas’ood (رضي الله عنه): The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) taught them the tashahhud then he said at the end: “Let him ask for whatever good things he wishes.” (Narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim)

DHIKR (REMEMBRANCE) AFTER SALAH

“Immediately after concluding prayer with tasleem, these supplications of dhikr are to be said in the following sequence:

  • Asking for Allah’s Forgiveness three times
  • Saying, “O Allah, You are the Perfection, and You are the One Who grants perfection; Blessed are You, O Owner of Majesty and Horror.”
  • “There is no deity but Allah, Alone, Who has no partner. To Him belongs dominion, and to Him belongs (all) praise, and He is over all things Omnipotent. O Allah! None can withhold what You grant, and none can grant what You withhold, and the fortune of a mart of means is useless before You (i.e., only good deeds are of value).”
  • Saying, “There is neither might nor power except in Allah. There is no deity but Allah, and we worship none but Him, Alone. To Him belong all bounties, to Him belongs all grace, and to Him is worthy praise accorded. There is no deity but Allah; we are sincere to Him in religion, although the disbelievers dislike it,”
  • Saying, “Subhan-Allah” (Glory be to Allah), “AI-hamdu-lillah” (Praise be to Allah),” Allahu-Akbar” (Allah is the Greatest) respectively thirty-three times each, and then saying to complete a hundred, “There is no deity but Allah, Alone, Who has no partner: To Him belongs dominion, and to Him belongs (all) praise, and He is over all things Omnipotent.”
  • Saying ten times following the Fajr (Dawn) and. the Maghrib (Sunset) Prayers, “There is no deity but Allah, Alone, Who has no partner. To Him belongs dominion, and to Him belongs (aII) praise. He gives life and causes death, and He is over all things Omnipotent;’ then saying seven times, “O my Lord, protect me from the Hellfire.”
  • Reciting Ayatui-Kursi (the Verse of the Throne), the Suras of AI-Ikhlas (Sincerity of Faith) and AI-Mu’awwidhatan (the Suras of AI-Falaq (Daybreak) and An-Nas (Mankind)). It is also desirable to recite each of these suras three times following the Fajr (Dawn) and the Maghrib (Sunset} Prayers…
  • After finishing the aforesaid supplications of dhikr, a Muslim should invoke Allah secretly, asking Him for whatever he desires, for invocation after performing prayer and saying those glorious supplications of dhikr is more likely to be granted by Allah. It is prohibited for a Muslim to raise his hands while invoking Allah after obligatory prayers as some people mistakenly do, for this is an act of innovation in religion….” (‘Summary of Islamic Jurisprudence’ by Salih Al-Fawzans)

There are many authentic du’aa and adhkar for various occasions within and outside salah that can be found in the following book: The Book of Dhikr and Supplication in accordance with the Qur’an and the Sunnah and can be downloaded from the following link: http://www.muslim-library.com/dl/books/English_The_Book_of_Dhikr_and_Supplication_in_accordance_with_the_Quran_and_the_Sunnah.pdf

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