✍ Written by: Maqbool Ahmad Salafi – Jeddah Da’wah Center, Hayy as-Salamah, Saudi Arabia
Allah Almighty created mankind solely for His worship, as a believer remains engaged in remembering and worshipping their Creator morning and evening. Ṣalāh (prayer) is a form of worship and also a remembrance (dhikr), as stated in Surah al-Jumuʿah, verse 9.
وَلَذِكْرُ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ
“And indeed, the remembrance of Allah is the greatest.”
[Al-ʿAnkabūt: 45]
Dhikr is both verbal and spiritual worship, intended to glorify and exalt Allah. In return, Allah grants protection from immorality, evil beings (humans and jinn), and bestows immense reward.
Before detailing the post-prayer adhkār, the author highlights eight powerful times for remembrance. Especially for women, regularly practicing these can:
✔ Bring peace of heart
✔ Protect from evil humans, jinn, black magic, and possession
✔ Prevent the need to visit “spiritual healers” (ʿāmilīn)
These eight occasions are:
① After the five obligatory prayers
② During morning and evening times
③ Before sleep – Recite prescribed supplications
✿ Other adhkār related to eating, entering/exiting the mosque, washroom, home, and marketplace remain vital too.
الوقایة خیر من العلاج
“Prevention is better than cure.”
✔ Regular dhikr offers both spiritual and physical protection, and a wise person adopts precaution.
Narrated Abū Hurairah رضي الله عنه:
“The angels continue to invoke blessings upon any one of you while he remains seated at his prayer place, saying: ‘O Allah, forgive him! O Allah, have mercy on him!’—as long as he does not nullify his ablution. The entire time he remains seated is considered as prayer.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 659]
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1506]
Proof:
Abdullāh ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما said:
“I used to know the end of the Prophet ﷺ’s prayer by the takbīr (i.e., Allāhu Akbar).”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 842]
"I seek Allah’s forgiveness" (×3), followed by:
اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ السَّلَامُ وَمِنْكَ السَّلَامُ، تَبَارَكْتَ يَا ذَا الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ
Proof:
Thawbān رضي الله عنه narrated:
“When the Prophet ﷺ finished prayer, he would say it three times and then recite this duʿā.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1334]
اللَّهُمَّ أَعِنِّي عَلَى ذِكْرِكَ، وَشُكْرِكَ، وَحُسْنِ عِبَادَتِكَ
Proof:
Muʿādh ibn Jabal رضي الله عنه reported:
“The Prophet ﷺ held my hand and said: ‘I love you, O Muʿādh! So never forget to say this duʿā after every prayer.’”
[Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 1522]
[Sunan an-Nasā’ī: 1302]
After every prayer, recite:
لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ... وَلاَ يَنْفَعُ ذَا الْجَدِّ مِنْكَ الْجَدُّ
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 6330]
Complete formula includes:
لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ... مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْكَافِرُونَ
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1343]
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1352]
✔ Any of the above formats can be used.
✔ Recommended order: Subḥānallāh → Alḥamdulillāh → Allāhu Akbar
[Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 1523]
[Ṣaḥīḥ at-Tirmidhī: 2903]
اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ...
[Al-Baqarah: 255]
Proof:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever recites Āyat al-Kursī after every obligatory prayer, nothing prevents him from entering Jannah except death.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Targhīb: 1595]
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmiʿ: 972]
اللَّهُمَّ إنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الجُبْنِ...
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 2822]
[Ṣaḥīḥ at-Tirmidhī: 3474, 3534]
اللَّهُمَّ إنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْمًا نَافِعًا، وَرِزْقًا طَيِّبًا، وَعَمَلًا مُتَقَبَّلًا
[Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Mājah: 762]
سُبْحَانَ اللهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ، عَدَدَ خَلْقِهِ...
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 6913]
Offer Fajr in congregation, remain seated remembering Allah till sunrise, then pray 2 Rakʿāt.
[Ṣaḥīḥ at-Tirmidhī: 586]
❖ The Purpose of Creation and the Role of Dhikr
Allah Almighty created mankind solely for His worship, as a believer remains engaged in remembering and worshipping their Creator morning and evening. Ṣalāh (prayer) is a form of worship and also a remembrance (dhikr), as stated in Surah al-Jumuʿah, verse 9.
وَلَذِكْرُ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ
“And indeed, the remembrance of Allah is the greatest.”
[Al-ʿAnkabūt: 45]Dhikr is both verbal and spiritual worship, intended to glorify and exalt Allah. In return, Allah grants protection from immorality, evil beings (humans and jinn), and bestows immense reward.
❖ 8 Golden Occasions for Dhikr
Before detailing the post-prayer adhkār, the author highlights eight powerful times for remembrance. Especially for women, regularly practicing these can:
✔ Bring peace of heart
✔ Protect from evil humans, jinn, black magic, and possession
✔ Prevent the need to visit “spiritual healers” (ʿāmilīn)
These eight occasions are:
① After the five obligatory prayers
② During morning and evening times
③ Before sleep – Recite prescribed supplications
✿ Other adhkār related to eating, entering/exiting the mosque, washroom, home, and marketplace remain vital too.
❖ A Wise Proverb:
الوقایة خیر من العلاج
“Prevention is better than cure.”
✔ Regular dhikr offers both spiritual and physical protection, and a wise person adopts precaution.
✦ Virtue of Remaining Seated After Prayer
Narrated Abū Hurairah رضي الله عنه:
“The angels continue to invoke blessings upon any one of you while he remains seated at his prayer place, saying: ‘O Allah, forgive him! O Allah, have mercy on him!’—as long as he does not nullify his ablution. The entire time he remains seated is considered as prayer.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 659] [Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1506]✦ Essential Adhkār After Obligatory Prayers
① Saying "Allāhu Akbar" once immediately after completing prayer
Proof:
Abdullāh ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما said:
“I used to know the end of the Prophet ﷺ’s prayer by the takbīr (i.e., Allāhu Akbar).”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 842]② Three Times: أستغفرُ الله + اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ السَّلَامُ...
"I seek Allah’s forgiveness" (×3), followed by:
اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ السَّلَامُ وَمِنْكَ السَّلَامُ، تَبَارَكْتَ يَا ذَا الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ
Proof:
Thawbān رضي الله عنه narrated:
“When the Prophet ﷺ finished prayer, he would say it three times and then recite this duʿā.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1334]③ اللَّهُمَّ أَعِنِّي عَلَى ذِكْرِكَ...
اللَّهُمَّ أَعِنِّي عَلَى ذِكْرِكَ، وَشُكْرِكَ، وَحُسْنِ عِبَادَتِكَ
Proof:
Muʿādh ibn Jabal رضي الله عنه reported:
“The Prophet ﷺ held my hand and said: ‘I love you, O Muʿādh! So never forget to say this duʿā after every prayer.’”
[Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 1522] [Sunan an-Nasā’ī: 1302]④ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ... with extended duʿā
After every prayer, recite:
لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ... وَلاَ يَنْفَعُ ذَا الْجَدِّ مِنْكَ الْجَدُّ
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 6330]⑤ Comprehensive Dhikr Including: لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ
Complete formula includes:
لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ... مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْكَافِرُونَ
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1343]⑥ Tasbīḥ Formula in Multiple Variations
- Option 1: 33× Subḥānallāh, 33× Alḥamdulillāh, 33× Allāhu Akbar, then:
لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ...
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1352]- Option 2: Same as above but without concluding dhikr
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 843] - Option 3: 33× Subḥānallāh, 33× Alḥamdulillāh, 34× Allāhu Akbar
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1349] - Option 4: 10× each of Subḥānallāh, Alḥamdulillāh, Allāhu Akbar
[Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 5065]
✔ Any of the above formats can be used.
✔ Recommended order: Subḥānallāh → Alḥamdulillāh → Allāhu Akbar
⑦ Reciting Surah al-Ikhlāṣ, al-Falaq, and an-Nās once after every prayer
[Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 1523] [Ṣaḥīḥ at-Tirmidhī: 2903]⑧ Reciting Āyat al-Kursī
اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ...
[Al-Baqarah: 255]Proof:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever recites Āyat al-Kursī after every obligatory prayer, nothing prevents him from entering Jannah except death.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Targhīb: 1595] [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmiʿ: 972]⑨ A Powerful Duʿā for Protection from Fear, Misery, Old Age & Grave Punishment
اللَّهُمَّ إنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الجُبْنِ...
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 2822]⑩ After Fajr & Maghrib: Recite 10× — لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ...
[Ṣaḥīḥ at-Tirmidhī: 3474, 3534]⑪ After Fajr Only: Ask for Knowledge, Sustenance, and Acceptance
اللَّهُمَّ إنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْمًا نَافِعًا، وَرِزْقًا طَيِّبًا، وَعَمَلًا مُتَقَبَّلًا
[Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Mājah: 762]⑫ Highly Rewarded Dhikr:
سُبْحَانَ اللهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ، عَدَدَ خَلْقِهِ...
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 6913]⑬ Want the Reward of Ḥajj & ʿUmrah?
Offer Fajr in congregation, remain seated remembering Allah till sunrise, then pray 2 Rakʿāt.
[Ṣaḥīḥ at-Tirmidhī: 586]⚠ Important Warnings
- ✔ If in a hurry, you may read fewer adhkār—there’s no harm.
- ✔ If you must leave the masjid, you may read dhikr while walking.
- ✔ Start practicing whatever you remember and read the rest from a book/app until memorized.
Beware of fabricated “wazāʾif” and man-made duʿās. Stick to what the Prophet ﷺ taught.- Do not skip these supplications in favor of unauthentic collective duʿās or customs.
