Allah Almighty created humans solely for His worship; therefore, a believer remembers and worships his Creator and Owner morning and evening. Prayer is both an act of worship to Allah and a form of remembrance of Him. In Surah Al-Jumu’ah, verse 9, prayer is described as remembrance. Remembrance is a type of heart and tongue worship whose purpose is to praise, glorify, and exalt Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. In return, Allah protects His servants from shamelessness, the evil of humans and jinn, and grants various kinds of rewards and blessings. Allah says: ولذكرالله أكبر
Translation: Indeed, the remembrance of Allah is the greatest (thing), meaning that remembering Allah is a very great matter.
In view of the greatness and virtue of remembrance, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ taught various kinds of remembrances and supplications after the obligatory prayers, which I am mentioning in the following lines.
Before reciting the supplications, I personally want to inform the public, especially women, that there are eight excellent occasions for engaging in dhikr (remembrance of Allah), through which you will attain peace of heart, relief from sorrow, protection from the evil of people, and from black magic and sorcery, and you will not need to visit practitioners of magic. These eight types of occasions are as follows: perform the obligatory prayers at the five prescribed times and recite the supplications after the prayers; recite the morning and evening adhkar at two times; and recite the supplications at bedtime regularly. InshaAllah, you will be protected from all kinds of evil. Besides these, there are other adhkar for various occasions such as eating and drinking, entering and leaving the mosque, going to and coming from the bath, and supplications for the home and market, which have their own place.
There is an Arabic proverb الوقایۃ خیر من العلاج meaning “Precaution is better than cure,” which is also expressed in English as “Prevention is better than cure.”
The purpose of mentioning this saying is that if you adhere to the remembrances (adhkar), you will be protected from physical illness along with the happiness of both worlds, and the wise person is the one who adopts precautionary measures.
It is narrated from Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
المَلائِكَةُ تُصَلِّي علَى أحَدِكُمْ ما دامَ في مُصَلّاهُ، ما لَمْ يُحْدِثْ: اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ له، اللَّهُمَّ ارْحَمْهُ، لا يَزالُ أحَدُكُمْ في صَلاةٍ ما دامَتِ الصَّلاةُ تَحْبِسُهُ، لا يَمْنَعُهُ أنْ يَنْقَلِبَ إلى أهْلِهِ إلَّا الصَّلاةُ
Translation: The angels continue to pray for the one among you who prays, as long as he remains seated on his prayer mat after finishing the prayer, saying, “O Allah! Forgive him, O Allah! Have mercy on him.” The person among you who remains only because of the prayer, and nothing else prevents him from going home except the prayer, then all that time will be counted as prayer for him.
From this hadith, it is understood that whether a person sits waiting for the obligatory prayer or sits after the prayer for remembrance (adhkar), all of this is considered part of the prayer. In fact, angels pray for such a person, saying: O Allah! Forgive him, have mercy on him.
mentions that angels make these supplications for such a person: “اللهم ارحمه، اللهم اغفر له، اللهم تب عليه”
Translation: O Allah! Have mercy on him, O Allah forgive him, O Allah! Accept his repentance.
Reflect on this hadith to understand how much goodness and benefit there is in sitting for remembrance after the prayer. Blessed is the person who receives the prayers of the angels; surely such a person will never be sad, hopeless, or distressed.
Remembrances after the obligatory prayer
① «الله اكبر» (Immediately after the prayer ends, say Takbir once).
Evidence: It is narrated from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) that he said:
كُنْتُ أعْرِفُ انْقِضاءَ صَلاةِ النبيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّمَ بالتَّكْبِيرِ
Translation: I used to recognize the end of the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) prayer by the Takbir “Allahu Akbar”.
②«أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ، أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ، أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ،اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ السَّلَامُ وَمِنْكَ السَّلَامُ، تَبَارَكْتَ ذَا الجَلَالِ وَالإِكْرَامِ»۔
Evidence: It is narrated from Sayyiduna Thawban (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said:
كانَ رَسولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلَّمَ، إذَا انْصَرَفَ مِن صَلَاتِهِ اسْتَغْفَرَ ثَلَاثًا وَقالَ: اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ السَّلَامُ وَمِنْكَ السَّلَامُ، تَبَارَكْتَ ذَا الجَلَالِ وَالإِكْرَامِ
Translation: When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) finished his prayer, he would seek forgiveness three times and say: «اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ السَّلاَمُ وَمِنْكَ السَّلاَمُ تَبَارَكْتَ ذَا الْجَلاَلِ وَالإِكْرَامِ» (O Allah! You are Peace, and from You is peace. Blessed are You, O Possessor of Majesty and Honor).
③«اللَّهمَّ أعنِّي على ذِكْرِكَ، وشُكْرِكَ، وحُسنِ عبادتِكَ»۔
Evidence: It is narrated from Mu’adh ibn Jabal رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم took my hand and said:
يا مُعاذُ، واللَّهِ إنِّي لأحبُّكَ، واللَّهِ إنِّي لأحبُّك، فقالَ: أوصيكَ يا معاذُ لا تدَعنَّ في دُبُرَ كلِّ صلاةٍ تقولُ: اللَّهمَّ أعنِّي على ذِكْرِكَ، وشُكْرِكَ، وحُسنِ عبادتِكَ
Translation: O Mu’adh! By Allah, I love you, then he said: Never stop reciting this supplication after every prayer.
*In one narration, the words are as follows:
ربِّ أعنِّي على ذِكْرِكَ وشُكْرِكَ وحُسنِ عِبادتِكَ
*The same supplication is also narrated in general circumstances with slight variation as follows:
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه that the Noble Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
أَتُحِبُّونَ أنْ تَجْتَهِدُوا في الدعاءِ قولوا اللهمَّ أَعِنَّا على شُكْرِكَ ، و ذكرِكَ، و حُسْنِ عِبادَتِكَ
Translation: Do you want to make an effort in supplication? (If you want) then say: O Allah! Help us to be thankful to You, to remember You, and to worship You in the best manner.
④«لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ، اللَّهُمَّ لَا مَانِعَ لِمَا أَعْطَيْتَ، وَلَا مُعْطِيَ لِمَا مَنَعْتَ، وَلَا يَنْفَعُ ذَا الْجَدِّ مِنْكَ الْجَدُّ»۔
Evidence: It is narrated from Mughirah ibn Shu’bah’s scribe Warad:
كَتَبَ الْمُغِيرَةُ: إِلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ: أَنّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ يَقُولُ فِي دُبُرِ كُلِّ صَلَاةٍ:” إِذَا سَلَّمَ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ، اللَّهُمَّ لَا مَانِعَ لِمَا أَعْطَيْتَ، وَلَا مُعْطِيَ لِمَا مَنَعْتَ، وَلَا يَنْفَعُ ذَا الْجَدِّ مِنْكَ الْجَدُّ
Translation: Mughirah ibn Shu’bah رضي الله عنه wrote to Mu’awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan رضي الله عنهما that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم used to say this after every prayer when he turned the salam.
⑤«لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ لاَ حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِاللَّهِ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَلاَ نَعْبُدُ إِلاَّ إِيَّاهُ لَهُ النِّعْمَةُ وَلَهُ الْفَضْلُ وَلَهُ الثَّنَاءُ الْحَسَنُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْكَافِرُونَ»
Evidence: Abu al-Zubair said:
كانَ ابنُ الزُّبَيْرِ يقولُ: في دُبُرِ كُلِّ صَلَاةٍ حِينَ يُسَلِّمُ لا إلَهَ إلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لا شَرِيكَ له، له المُلْكُ وَلَهُ الحَمْدُ وَهو علَى كُلِّ شيءٍ قَدِيرٌ، لا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إلَّا باللَّهِ، لا إلَهَ إلَّا اللَّهُ، وَلَا نَعْبُدُ إلَّا إيَّاهُ، له النِّعْمَةُ وَلَهُ الفَضْلُ، وَلَهُ الثَّنَاءُ الحَسَنُ، لا إلَهَ إلَّا اللَّهُ مُخْلِصِينَ له الدِّينَ ولو كَرِهَ الكَافِرُونَ وَقالَ: كانَ رَسولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلَّمَ يُهَلِّلُ بهِنَّ دُبُرَ كُلِّ صَلَاةٍ.
Translation: Our master Ibn al-Zubair, may Allah be pleased with him, used to recite this every time after completing the prayer and turning the salam, and said that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, used to recite this after every prayer.
*The first phrase in this dhikr, that is “لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ”, has been described in Tirmidhi
as the best supplication on the day of Arafah. This hadith has a weak chain, but Shaykh al-Albani graded it as Hasan due to its following. See
.
⑥Subhan Allah (33 times), Alhamdulillah (33 times), Allahu Akbar (33 times), then recite once: «لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ»۔
Evidence: Our master Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
مَنْ سَبَّحَ اللَّهَ فِي دُبُرِ كُلِّ صَلَاةٍ ثَلَاثًا وَثَلَاثِينَ، وَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ ثَلَاثًا وَثَلَاثِينَ، وَكَبَّرَ اللَّهَ ثَلَاثًا وَثَلَاثِينَ، فَتْلِكَ تِسْعَةٌ وَتِسْعُونَ، وَقَالَ تَمَامَ الْمِائَةِ: لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ، وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ، غُفِرَتْ خَطَايَاهُ وَإِنْ كَانَتْ مِثْلَ زَبَدِ الْبَحْرِ
Translation: Whoever says Subhan Allah thirty-three times, Alhamdulillah thirty-three times, and Allahu Akbar thirty-three times after every prayer, that will be ninety-nine words, and then completes the hundred by saying once «لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ», meaning “There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, He has no partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He is over all things competent,” then his sins will be forgiven even if they are as much as the foam of the sea (i.e., countless).
*The second method of this tasbih:* Without the phrase La ilaha illallah… this tasbih is narrated with great virtue as follows: سبحان الله (33 times), الحمد لله (33 times), الله أكب (33 times).
Narrated from Hazrat Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, who said:
جاء الفقراء إلى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فقالوا: ذهب أهل الدثور بالدرجات العُلى والنعيم المقيم، يصلون كما نصلي ويصومون كما نصوم، ولهم فَضْلٌ من أموال يحجون بها ويعتمرون ويجاهدون ويتصدقون، قال: ألا أحدثكم بأمر إن أخذتم به أدركتم من سبقكم ولم يدرككم أحد بعدكم، وكنتم خير من أنتم بين ظهرانيه إلا من عمل مثله: تسبحون وتحمدون وتكبرون خلف كل صلاة ثلاثاً وثلاثين(صحیح البخاری: 843)
Translation: Some poor people came to the Prophet, peace be upon him, and said that the wealthy have attained high status and Paradise. They pray and fast like us, but they have superiority because of their wealth; they perform Hajj and Umrah with their wealth, they fight in jihad, and give charity. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: Shall I not tell you something by which you will surpass the earlier people and no one after you will surpass you, and you will be the best among yourselves except those who do the same? It is that after every prayer you say thirty-three times Subhan Allah, thirty-three times Alhamdulillah, and thirty-three times Allahu Akbar.
*The third method of tasbih:* سبحان الله (33 times), الحمد لله (33 times), الله أكبر (34 times).
Our master Ka’b ibn Ujrah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
مُعَقِّبَاتٌ، لَا يَخِيبُ قَائِلُهُنَّ، أَوْ فَاعِلُهُنَّ، دُبُرَ كُلِّ صَلَاةٍ مَكْتُوبَةٍ، ثَلَاثٌ وَثَلَاثُونَ تَسْبِيحَةً، وَثَلَاثٌ وَثَلَاثُونَ تَحْمِيدَةً، وَأَرْبَعٌ وَثَلَاثُونَ تَكْبِيرَةً
Translation: There are some supplications to be recited after prayer such that whoever recites or performs them after every obligatory prayer will never be deprived (of reward or high ranks). They are: saying Subhan Allah thirty-three times, Alhamdulillah thirty-three times, and Allahu Akbar thirty-four times.
*The fourth method of tasbih:* سبحان الله (10 times), الحمد لله (10 times), الله أكبر (10 times).
Abdullah ibn Amr, may Allah be pleased with both of them, said that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said:
خصلتان، أو خلتان لا يحافظُ عليهما عبدٌ مسلمٌ إلا دخل الجنةَ، هما يسيرٌ، ومن يعملُ بهما قليلٌ، يسبِّحً في دُبُرِ كلِّ صلاةٍ عشْرًا، ويحمَدَ عشْرًا ، ويكبِّرُ عشْرًا، فذلك خمسون ومائةٌ باللسانِ، وألفٌ وخمسمائةٍ في الميزانِ، ويكبِّرُ أربعًا وثلاثين إذا أخذ مضجعَه ، ويحمَدُ ثلاثًا وثلاثين ، ويسبِّحُ ثلاثًا وثلاثين ، فذلك مائةٌ باللسانِ ، وألفٌ في الميزانِ . فلقد رأيتُ رسولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يعقِدُها بيدِه ، قالوا: يا رسولَ اللهِ ، كيف هما يسيرٌ ومن يعملُ بهما قليلٌ؟ قال: يأتي أحدَكم يعني الشيطانَ في منامِه فيُنَوِّمُه قبل أن يقولَه ، ويأتيه في صلاتِه فيُذَكِّرَه حاجةً قبلَ أن يقولَها(صحيح أبي داود:5065)
Translation: There are two qualities or habits such that if a Muslim consistently maintains them, he will surely enter Paradise. Both are easy, but few people act upon them. One is that after every prayer say ten times “Subhan Allah,” ten times “Alhamdulillah,” and ten times “Allahu Akbar,” so that by tongue it becomes one hundred and fifty times a day and night, and in the scale it will be one thousand five hundred times (because every good deed is rewarded tenfold). The other is that before sleeping say Allahu Akbar thirty-four times, Alhamdulillah thirty-three times, and Subhan Allah thirty-three times, so that by tongue it becomes one hundred times and in the scale it will be one thousand times. I saw the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, counting this on his fingers. People said: O Messenger of Allah! These two acts are easy, so how come few people act upon them? He said: Because every one of you has a devil who comes to him during his sleep and puts him to sleep before he says these words. Similarly, the devil comes to the one who prays during his prayer and reminds him of some necessary matter before he says these tasbihs, so he leaves without completing them.
*Reflect on the hadiths related to these four methods of tasbih to understand their great virtue, especially the last hadith which explains how the devil distracts a person from dhikr so that he misses out on great virtue. Also remember that you can recite tasbih by any of these methods. Another point is that the order of tasbih is usually Subhan Allah first, then Alhamdulillah, and then Allahu Akbar. If this order changes sometimes, there is no harm, as you see in the last hadith the order is different.*
⑦After every prayer, recite Surah Al-Ikhlaas once, Surah Al-Falaq once, and Surah An-Naas once.
Al-Ikhlaas
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
I begin in the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful –
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ (1) اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ (2) لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ (3) وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ (4)
Translation: Say, He is Allah, [who is] One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, Nor is there to Him any equivalent.
Al-Falaq
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
I begin in the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful –
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ (1) مِن شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ (2) وَمِن شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ (3) وَمِن شَرِّ النَّفَّاثَاتِ فِي الْعُقَدِ (4) وَمِن شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ (5)
Translation: Say, I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak, From the evil of that which He created, And from the evil of darkness when it settles, And from the evil of the blowers in knots, And from the evil of an envier when he envies.
An-Naas
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
I begin in the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful –
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ (1) مَلِكِ النَّاسِ (2) إِلَٰهِ النَّاسِ (3) مِن شَرِّ الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ (4) الَّذِي يُوَسْوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ النَّاسِ (5) مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ (6)
Translation:Say, “I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind, the Sovereign of mankind, the God of mankind, from the evil of the whisperer who withdraws, who whispers in the breasts of mankind, among jinn and among mankind.”
دلیل:عن عُقبةَ بنِ عامرٍ، قالَ: أمرَني رسولُ اللَّهِ صلَّى اللَّهُ علَيهِ وسلَّمَ أن أقرأَ بالمعوِّذاتِ دُبُرَ كلِّ صلاةٍ(صحيح أبي داود:1523)
Translation: Uqbah bin Amir رضي الله عنه says that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم commanded me to recite the Mu’awwidhat after every prayer.
Here, Mu’awwidhat is in the plural form, and it refers to Surah Ikhlas, Surah Falaq, and Surah Nas because it is a common linguistic rule that the plural applies to more than two. This is supported by the narration related to the supplication at bedtime
, in which the word Mu’awwidhat is mentioned, and in another narration of Sahih Bukhari (5017), the names of these three Surahs are explicitly mentioned, i.e., Surah Ikhlas, Surah Falaq, and Surah Nas.
*In another authentic hadith, it mentions reciting the two Mu’awwidhat after every prayer, meaning the two Surahs (Surah Falaq and Surah Nas), as mentioned in Tirmidhi.
عَنْ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ عَامِرٍ قَالَ أَمَرَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنْ أَقْرَأَ بِالْمُعَوِّذَتَيْنِ فِي دُبُرِ كُلِّ صَلَاةٍ(صحيح الترمذي:2903)
Translation: Uqbah bin Amir رضي الله عنه says: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded me to recite the two Mu’awwidhat after every prayer.
Based on this narration, some people say that only two Surahs should be recited after every prayer, i.e., Surah Falaq and Surah Nas, and that Surah Ikhlas should not be recited. However, from the above hadith, we understand that Mu’awwidhat should be recited, which refers to three Surahs, and we also know that any addition proven by an authentic hadith is acceptable. Therefore, Surah Ikhlas should also be recited after the prayer. I have written a separate detailed article on the proof of reciting Surah Ikhlas after the obligatory prayers, which can be read on my blog. In summary, after every prayer, Surah Ikhlas should be recited once, Surah Falaq once, and Surah Nas once.
*Some calendars mention reciting all three Surahs three times after Fajr and Maghrib prayers and once after the other prayers (Dhuhr, Asr, Isha), but the correct practice is to recite each of these three Surahs once after every prayer and to recite them three times each as morning and evening remembrance.
*For health, well-being, and protection from harm and magic, these three great Surahs should be recited after the five daily prayers, in the morning and evening, and also at bedtime.
⑧آیۃ الکرسی پڑھیں: « اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ ۚ لَّهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ ۗ مَن ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلَّا بِمَا شَاءَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ ۖ وَلَا يَئُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ »
Translation: Allah is the only true God, besides whom there is no deity, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of all existence. Neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is before them and what will be after them, and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills. His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.
Evidence: Sayyiduna Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
من قرأ آية الكرسي في دبر كل صلاة لم يحل بينه وبين دخول الجنة إلا الموت(سلسله احاديث صحيحه ترقیم البانی: 972 و صحيح الترغيب والترهيب برقم :1595)
Translation: Whoever recites Ayat al-Kursi after every prayer, nothing stands between him and Paradise except death.
* The Prophet ﷺ declared this verse the greatest verse of the Quran, and it plays a major role in protection from Satan. Therefore, recite it after the obligatory prayers and also make it a habit to recite it at other times, especially in the morning, evening, and before sleeping.
» ⑨اللَّهُمَّ إنِّي أعُوذُ بكَ مِنَ الجُبْنِ، وأَعُوذُ بكَ مِنَ البُخْلِ، وأَعُوذُ بكَ مِن أنْ أُرَدَّ إلى أرْذَلِ العُمُرِ، وأَعُوذُ بكَ مِن فِتْنَةِ الدُّنْيَا، وعَذَابِ القَبْرِ».
Evidence: Amr bin Maymoon Oodi narrated:
كان سعد يعلم بنيه هؤلاء الكلمات كما يعلم المعلم الغلمان الكتابة، ويقول: إن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم:” كان يتعوذ منهن دبر الصلاة اللهم إني اعوذ بك من الجبن، واعوذ بك ان ارد إلى ارذل العمر، واعوذ بك من فتنة الدنيا، واعوذ بك من عذاب القبر”، فحدثت به مصعبا فصدقه.(صحیح البخاری:2822)
Translation: Saad bin Abi Waqqas رضي الله عنه used to teach these supplicatory words to his children just as a teacher teaches children to write, and he said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to seek refuge after prayer with these words: «اللهم إني أعوذ بك من الجبن، وأعوذ بك أن أرد إلى أرذل العمر، وأعوذ بك من فتنة الدنيا، وأعوذ بك من عذاب القبر» (O Allah! I seek refuge in You from cowardice, and I seek refuge in You from being returned to the worst part of old age, and I seek refuge in You from the trials of this world, and I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the grave). Then I narrated this hadith to Mus’ab bin Saad, and he also confirmed it.
⑩ After the Fajr prayer and after the Maghrib prayer, say these words ten times each: » لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ عَشْرَ»۔
Evidence for reciting after Fajr prayer: It is narrated from Abu Dharr رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
مَنْ قَالَ فِي دُبُرِ صَلَاةِ الْفَجْرِ وَهُوَ ثَانٍ رِجْلَيْهِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَتَكَلَّمَ: لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ عَشْرَ مَرَّاتٍ، كُتِبَ لَهُ عَشْرُ حَسَنَاتٍ، وَمُحِيَتْ عَنْهُ عَشْرُ سَيِّئَاتٍ، وَرُفِعَ لَهُ عَشْرُ دَرَجَاتٍ، وَكَانَ يَوْمَهُ ذَلِكَ كُلَّهُ فِي حِرْزٍ مِنْ كُلِّ مَكْرُوهٍ، وَحُرِسَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ، وَلَمْ يَنْبَغِ لِذَنْبٍ أَنْ يُدْرِكَهُ فِي ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ إِلَّا الشِّرْكَ بِاللَّهِ
Translation: Whoever, after the Fajr prayer, while sitting on his knees (in the sitting posture) and not speaking, says ten times: «لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له له الملك وله الحمد يحيي ويميت وهو على كل شيء» ten good deeds will be recorded for him, ten bad deeds will be erased, his rank will be raised by ten degrees, and he will be protected throughout the day from all kinds of disliked and unpleasant things. He will be guarded against the influence of Satan, and no sin except associating partners with Allah will cause his destruction that day.
Evidence for reciting after Maghrib prayer: Amarah bin Shubayb Sabaa’i says that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
مَنْ قَالَ: لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ عَشْرَ مَرَّاتٍ عَلَى إِثْرِ الْمَغْرِبِ، بَعَثَ اللَّهُ مَسْلَحَةً يَحْفَظُونَهُ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ حَتَّى يُصْبِحَ، وَكَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ بِهَا عَشْرَ حَسَنَاتٍ مُوجِبَاتٍ، وَمَحَا عَنْهُ عَشْرَ سَيِّئَاتٍ مُوبِقَاتٍ، وَكَانَتْ لَهُ بِعَدْلِ عَشْرِ رِقَابٍ مُؤْمِنَاتٍ
Translation: Whoever says ten times after Maghrib: «لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له له الملك وله الحمد يحيي ويميت وهو على كل شيء قدير» Allah will send armed angels to protect him until morning who will guard him from Satan. For him, ten good deeds will be recorded which will make him deserving of reward and his deadly sins and faults will be erased, and he will receive the reward equivalent to freeing ten Muslim slaves.
*There is also mention of reciting it one hundred times a day without “يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ“. It is narrated from Sayyidina Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said: “Whoever says «لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِير» one hundred times in a day will have the reward as if he freed ten camels (slaves), one hundred good deeds will be recorded for him, one hundred bad deeds will be erased, and he will be protected from Satan from morning until evening. No one will bring a better deed that day except the one who does more than this (i.e., recites this Tasbih more than one hundred times or performs more good deeds). And whoever says «سبحان الله وبحمده» one hundred times a day, his sins will be erased even if they are like the foam of the sea.”
*This is a great remembrance; besides earning reward and merit, it provides special protection from Satan. Therefore, one should definitely make an effort to recite it.
⑪ After the Fajr prayer, recite this: »اللَّهمَّ إنِّي أسألُكَ عِلمًا نافعًا ورزقًا طيِّبًا وعملًا متقبَّلًا»۔
Evidence: Umm al-Mu’minin Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) says:
كانَ يقولُ إذا صلَّى الصُّبحَ حينَ يسلِّمُ اللَّهمَّ إنِّي أسألُكَ عِلمًا نافعًا ورزقًا طيِّبًا وعملًا متقبَّلًا(صحيح ابن ماجه:762)
Translation: When the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) finished the Fajr prayer and said the salam, he would recite this supplication: “O Allah! I ask You for beneficial knowledge, goodly provision, and accepted deeds.”
⑫ After prayer, recite this frequently, especially after Fajr: «سُبْحَانَ اللهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ، عَدَدَ خَلْقِهِ، وَرِضَا نَفْسِهِ، وَزِنَةَ عَرْشِهِ، وَمِدَادَ كَلِمَاتِهِ»۔
Evidence: It is narrated from Umm al-Mu’minin Sayyida Juwayriyah رضي الله عنها:
أنَّ النَّبيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عليه وَسَلَّمَ خَرَجَ مِن عِندِهَا بُكْرَةً حِينَ صَلَّى الصُّبْحَ وَهي في مَسْجِدِهَا، ثُمَّ رَجَعَ بَعْدَ أَنْ أَضْحَى وَهي جَالِسَةٌ، فَقالَ: ما زِلْتِ علَى الحَالِ الَّتي فَارَقْتُكِ عَلَيْهَا؟ قالَتْ: نَعَمْ، قالَ النَّبيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عليه وَسَلَّمَ: لقَدْ قُلتُ بَعْدَكِ أَرْبَعَ كَلِمَاتٍ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ، لو وُزِنَتْ بما قُلْتِ مُنْذُ اليَومِ لَوَزَنَتْهُنَّ: سُبْحَانَ اللهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ، عَدَدَ خَلْقِهِ، وَرِضَا نَفْسِهِ، وَزِنَةَ عَرْشِهِ، وَمِدَادَ كَلِمَاتِهِ(صحيح مسلم:6913)
Translation: The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم left their place early in the morning after performing the morning prayer while she was still in her place of prayer. Then he returned at midday and saw that she was still sitting there. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “You have remained in the same state since I left you.” Sayyida Juwayriyah رضي الله عنها said: Yes. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: I said four phrases three times after you; if they are weighed against the phrases you have said so far, those will be heavier. Those phrases are «سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ عَدَدَ خَلْقِهِ وَرِضَا نَفْسِهِ وَزِنَةَ عَرْشِهِ وَمِدَادَ كَلِمَاتِهِ» meaning: I declare Allah pure with qualities equal to the number of His creations, equal to His pleasure and happiness, equal to the weight of His Throne, and equal to the ink of His words (meaning infinitely many, because there is no limit to Allah’s words; even if the entire ocean were ink, it would run out before Allah’s words do).
*Besides prayers, this great remembrance should also be practiced in general situations, so that the tongue remains moist with the remembrance of Allah.
⑬If you want to receive the reward of Hajj and Umrah, then after praying Fajr in congregation, sit on the prayer mat and engage in dhikr until the sun rises, then offer two rak’ahs of prayer.
It is narrated from Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: من صلى الغداة في جماعة، ثم قعد يذكر الله حتى تطلع الشمس، ثم صلى ركعتين كانت له كأجر حجة وعمرة تامة تامة تامة۔ (صحيح الترمذي: 586)
Translation: Whoever prays Fajr in congregation, then remains engaged in the remembrance of Allah until the sun rises, and then prays two rak’ahs, will have the reward equivalent to a complete Hajj and Umrah.
Important Warnings:
* Among scholars, there is some difference regarding the authenticity of certain ahadith about the amount of dhikr to be recited, so it is not wrong if you recite a little less or a little more. The main thing is to be punctual in the five daily prayers and after the prayer recite the dhikr that is established by authentic ahadith.
* Sometimes due to haste, one may limit oneself to a few dhikrs, which is not wrong, and if due to necessity one has to leave the mosque, one can also recite these dhikrs while walking.
* Start reciting as many of these supplications as you remember immediately after the obligatory prayers, and for those you do not remember, you can read them by looking. However, try to memorize the remaining supplications as soon as possible.
* Most of us fear jinn and devils, and women tend to fear them even more. This is why many practitioners, to earn money, excessively frighten the public, especially women, by saying “You are under the shadow of a curse.” Arrange to recite these supplications on these eight occasions; God willing, you will not need to visit such practitioners.
* It is very unfortunate that most people, after performing the obligatory prayer, immediately start making dua or begin reciting Sunnah prayers and leave the mosque, missing out on many blessings and protections.
* It is extremely regrettable for those Muslims who are experts in reciting artificial remembrances and concocting supplications, yet harbor such enmity towards the Messenger of Allah ﷺ that they completely avoid the authentic remembrances after the obligatory prayers. Surely, their imam must have graduated from some madrasa, or at least they must have knowledge of prayer. Then how do these people immediately engage in collective supplication after performing the obligatory prayer, while collective supplication is not established from the hadith? On one hand, they invent all kinds of supplications on their own, and on the other hand, they avoid the remembrances proven from Muhammad ﷺ as if their scholars and common people are unaware of these remembrances. Acting upon them is out of the question.
