Ruling on Individual and Collective Duʿā After Obligatory Prayers
Source: Fatāwā Rāshidiyyah, p. 313
❖ Question:
Is making duʿā after the obligatory prayers, individually or collectively, established from the Sunnah, or is it an innovation (bidʿah)?
❖ Answer:
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله، أما بعد!
✿ Duʿā After Obligatory Prayers
- In Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, Abū Umāmah رضي الله عنه narrates:
The Prophet ﷺ was asked, “Which duʿā is most heard (accepted)?”
He replied:
“The last part of the night and after the obligatory prayers.”
Imām Tirmidhī said: this ḥadīth is ḥasan.
➡ This indicates that duʿā after obligatory prayers is a time of acceptance.
- Duʿā may be made with or without raising the hands, as both are found in authentic narrations, and raising the hands is from the adab (etiquettes) of duʿā.
✿ Raising the Hands in Duʿā
- In Sunan al-Kubrā (2/133), Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما narrated that the Prophet ﷺ raised his hands to shoulder level and said: “This is duʿā.”
- In Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān, Salmān رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“When My servant raises his hands in duʿā, I feel shy to return them empty.” - Even in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, it is mentioned that the Prophet ﷺ raised his hands after Ṣalāt al-Khawf.
➡ Therefore, raising the hands in duʿā — including after obligatory prayers — is Sunnah and recommended.
✿ Collective Duʿā
- Evidence from Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī:
On a Friday, during the khutbah, a man complained of drought. The Prophet ﷺ raised his hands and prayed, and the people raised their hands with him.
➡ This shows the practice of collective duʿā when the Prophet ﷺ prayed. - Evidence from al-Mustadrak of al-Ḥākim (3/347):
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“No group gathers and one of them makes duʿā while the rest say ‘Āmīn’ except that Allah answers them.”
- This ḥadīth has a ḥasan chain. Imām al-Ḥākim authenticated it, and Imām al-Dhahabī did not object.
- The wording “malāʾ” (a group) is general — including prayer congregations.
✿ Important Clarification
- There is no authentic ḥadīth prohibiting raising the hands or making duʿā after obligatory prayers.
- However, making duʿā after every prayer as if it is a fixed part of the ṣalāh, or criticizing those who do not do it, is not allowed. In that case, it becomes an innovation.
Conclusion
✔ Individual and collective duʿā after obligatory prayers is permissible and recommended.
✔ Raising the hands in duʿā is from the Sunnah and adab of duʿā.
✔ It should not be considered a compulsory part of ṣalāh, nor should others be criticized for not doing it.
✔ If done occasionally with sincerity, it is valid and carries reward, as confirmed by authentic narrations.
