11 Sunnah Adhkār After the Obligatory Prayer
① Saying Takbīr Aloud After Prayer
Sayyiduna Ibn ‘Abbās رضي الله عنهما said:
“I used to know that the prayer of the Prophet ﷺ had ended by hearing the takbīr (Allāhu Akbar) aloud.”
(Bukhari: 841; Muslim: 583)
This shows that the imam and congregation may say “Allāhu Akbar” aloud once after the prayer ends.
② Seeking Forgiveness & Salam after Prayer
Sayyiduna Thawbān رضي الله عنه reported that the Prophet ﷺ used to say after prayer:
“Astaghfirullāh” (three times), then:
“Allāhumma anta as-salām wa minka as-salām tabārakta yā dhal-jalāli wal-ikrām.”
(Muslim: 591)
③ Du‘ā’ for Dhikr, Shukr, and Good Worship
Sayyiduna Mu‘ādh رضي الله عنه said the Prophet ﷺ taught him to say after each prayer:
“Allāhumma a‘innī ‘alā dhikrika wa shukrika wa ḥusni ‘ibādatik.”
(Abu Dawud: 1522 — Sahih)
④ Affirmation of Allah’s Sovereignty
Sayyiduna al-Mughīrah رضي الله عنه reported:
“Lā ilāha illallāhu waḥdahu lā sharīka lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-ḥamdu wa huwa ‘alā kulli shay’in qadīr. Allāhumma lā māni‘a limā a‘ṭayta wa lā mu‘ṭiya limā mana‘ta wa lā yanfa‘u dhal-jaddi minkal-jadd.”
(Bukhari: 844; Muslim: 593)
⑤ Comprehensive Praise and Declaration
Sayyiduna ‘Abdullāh ibn al-Zubayr رضي الله عنهما reported a longer dhikr of tawḥīd and praise after prayer.
(Muslim: 594)
⑥ Du‘ā’ for Protection
The Prophet ﷺ would say:
“Allāhumma innī a‘ūdhu bika minal-jubn, wa a‘ūdhu bika an uradda ilā ardhalil-‘umur, wa a‘ūdhu bika min fitnatid-dunyā wa ‘adhābil-qabr.”
(Bukhari: 2822)
⑦ Tasbīḥ, Taḥmīd, and Takbīr
Say 33 times: Subḥānallāh, Alḥamdulillāh, Allāhu Akbar — then once:
“Lā ilāha illallāhu waḥdahu lā sharīka lah…”
(Muslim: 597; Bukhari: 843)
⑧ Recitation of the Mu‘awwidhāt
After every obligatory prayer, recite:
- Sūrah al-Ikhlāṣ (112)
- Sūrah al-Falaq (113)
- Sūrah al-Nās (114)
(Abu Dawud: 1523 — Sahih)
⑨ Du‘ā’ after Fajr
Umm Salamah رضي الله عنها narrated the Prophet ﷺ said after Fajr:
“Allāhumma innī as’aluka ‘ilman nāfi‘an, wa rizqan ṭayyiban, wa ‘amalan mutaqabbalan.”
(Ibn Mājah: 925)
⑩ Special Dhikr after Maghrib
Say once:
“Lā ilāha illallāhu waḥdahu lā sharīka lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-ḥamdu yuḥyī wa yumīt, wa huwa ‘alā kulli shay’in qadīr.”
Brings 10 good deeds, erases 10 sins, protects from Shayṭān until morning, and equals freeing 10 slaves.
(Tirmidhī: 3474)
⑪ Āyat al-Kursī after Each Prayer
Sayyiduna Abū Umāmah رضي الله عنه narrated:
“Whoever recites Āyat al-Kursī after every obligatory prayer, nothing prevents him from entering Paradise except death.”
(Nasā’ī al-Kubrā: 9848 — Sahih)
Note:
- These adhkār are Sunnah and should be prioritized over any fixed congregational du‘ā’.
- Raising hands in du‘ā’ after every prayer regularly in congregation has no basis from the Prophet ﷺ.
