Ruling and Guidance on Loud Collective Dhikr After Prayer
Source: Fatāwā Arkān al-Islām
In some countries, it is a common practice to recite Sūrat al-Fātiḥah, Āyat al-Kursī, and other adhkār collectively and aloud after obligatory prayers. What is the Shar‘i ruling on this?
«كان رفع الصوت بالذكر حين ينصرف الناس من المكتوبة على عهد النبي ﷺ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Adhān, Bāb al-Dhikr Ba‘d al-Ṣalāh, ḥadīth 841)
Translation:
“In the time of the Prophet ﷺ, raising the voice with dhikr after the obligatory prayer was practiced when the people finished the prayer.”
هٰذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
Source: Fatāwā Arkān al-Islām
Question
In some countries, it is a common practice to recite Sūrat al-Fātiḥah, Āyat al-Kursī, and other adhkār collectively and aloud after obligatory prayers. What is the Shar‘i ruling on this?
Ruling on Collective Dhikr
- Reciting Sūrat al-Fātiḥah, Āyat al-Kursī, or other adhkār collectively in a loud voice after prayer is a bid‘ah (innovation).
- This is because it has no basis in the practice of the Prophet ﷺ or his Companions رضي الله عنهم.
- Although it is authentically reported that they would perform dhikr aloud after prayer, each individual would do so individually, not in a coordinated group manner.
Loud Individual Dhikr is Sunnah
- Performing dhikr aloud individually after prayer is Sunnah, as in the narration of Ibn ‘Abbās رضي الله عنهما:
«كان رفع الصوت بالذكر حين ينصرف الناس من المكتوبة على عهد النبي ﷺ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Adhān, Bāb al-Dhikr Ba‘d al-Ṣalāh, ḥadīth 841)
Translation:
“In the time of the Prophet ﷺ, raising the voice with dhikr after the obligatory prayer was practiced when the people finished the prayer.”
No Evidence for Reciting Sūrat al-Fātiḥah After Prayer
- There is no authentic ḥadīth from the Prophet ﷺ proving that Sūrat al-Fātiḥah should be recited after prayer.
- The adhkār proven from aḥādīth after prayer include:
- Āyat al-Kursī
- Sūrat al-Ikhlāṣ
- Sūrat al-Falaq and Sūrat al-Nās (al-Mu‘awwidhatayn)
هٰذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
