Authentic Post-Prayer Adhkar from the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ

Post-Prayer Sunnah Adhkar in Light of Authentic Hadith


Adapted from: “Mukhtaṣar Ṣaḥīḥ Namāz-e-Nabawī ﷺ – Takbīr Taḥrīmah to Salām” by Shaykh Zubair ʿAlī Zaʾī رحمه الله

1. Loud Takbīr After the Salah​

ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما said:


"كنت اعرف انقضاء صلوة النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم بالتكبير"
“I used to know the completion of the Prophet’s ﷺ prayer by the takbīr (Allāhu Akbar).”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 842; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 583/120)

• Imām Abū Dāwūd placed it under “Chapter: Takbīr after the Salah”.
• This shows that after obligatory prayers, the imām, congregation, and even an individual worshipper should say Allāhu Akbar aloud.

2. Seeking Forgiveness and Glorifying Allah​

The Prophet ﷺ, after finishing prayer, would say three times:


"استغفر الله، استغفر الله، استغفر الله"
Then say:
"اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ السَّلَامُ وَمِنْكَ السَّلَامُ، تَبَارَكْتَ ذَا الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ"
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 591)

3. Declaring Tawḥīd​

He ﷺ would also say:


"لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ ٱلْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ ٱلْحَمْدُ، وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ"
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 844; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 593)

4. Special Duʿā’ Taught to Muʿādh رضي الله عنه​

"اللَّهُمَّ أَعِنِّي عَلَىٰ ذِكْرِكَ وَشُكْرِكَ وَحُسْنِ عِبَادَتِكَ"
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd, 1522 – authentic; al-Nasā’ī, 1304)

5. Tasbīḥ, Taḥmīd, and Takbīr Counts​

• 33-33-33 Formula:
  Say Subḥān Allāh 33 times, Al-ḥamdu lillāh 33 times, Allāhu Akbar 33 times, then conclude with:

"لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ ٱلْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ ٱلْحَمْدُ، وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ"
Sins are forgiven even if as abundant as sea foam. (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 597)

• 33-33-34 Formula is also authentic. (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 596)

6. Reciting the Muʿawwidhāt (Protective Surahs)​

The Prophet ﷺ instructed ʿUqbah ibn ʿĀmir رضي الله عنه to recite the Muʿawwidhāt (Sūrat al-Ikhlāṣ, al-Falaq, al-Nās) after every prayer.
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd, 1523 – ḥasan; al-Nasā’ī, 1337)

7. Duʿā’ After Salah​

Any duʿā’ from Qur’an or authentic Sunnah may be recited after salah. Since the prayer is complete, duʿā’ in one’s own language is permissible.

8. Collective Duʿā’​

There is no authentic evidence for regular collective duʿā’ immediately after every congregational prayer.

9. Wiping the Face After Duʿā’​

ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar and ʿAbdullāh ibn al-Zubayr رضي الله عنهم would make duʿā’ and then wipe their hands over their faces.
(al-Adab al-Mufrad, 609 – ḥasan chain)

10. Virtue of Āyat al-Kursī After Prayer​

The Prophet ﷺ said:


“Whoever recites Āyat al-Kursī after every obligatory prayer, nothing will prevent him from entering Paradise except death.”
(al-Nasā’ī al-Kubrā, 9928 – ḥasan chain)


Summary:
The authentic post-prayer adhkar include:

1. Saying Allāhu Akbar aloud
2. Three times Astaghfirullāh + duʿā’ “Allāhumma Anta as-Salām…”
3. Lā ilāha illā Allāh waḥdahu…
4. Duʿā’ “Allāhumma aʿinnī ʿalā dhikrika…”
5. Tasbīḥ/taḥmīd/takbīr in sets of 33-33-33 or 33-33-34
6. Reciting the three Quls
7. Āyat al-Kursī
8. Other authentic duʿās, individually