✍ Written by: Imran Ayub Lahori
The practice of collective supplication led by the Imam with the congregation (muqtadis) after Fard prayers is not authentically established from the Prophet ﷺ or his Companions رضي الله عنهم. Due to this absence of precedent, some scholars have declared it an innovation (Bidʿah).
➊ An individual making duʿāʾ after Salah, whether the Imam or any congregant, such as duʿāʾ of Istikhārah, etc. — This is permissible.
➋ The Imam and congregation jointly engaging in duʿāʾ after the Fard prayer — This, according to the scholars, was not practiced by the Prophet ﷺ.
He ﷺ would recite the post-prayer adhkār, and none of the Companions have reported that he led a collective duʿāʾ after obligatory prayers. If this had been his regular practice, the Companions, Tabiʿīn, and scholars would have narrated it — just as they have preserved and transmitted even lesser matters of his Sunnah.
[Al-Fatāwā al-Kubrā: 1/158]
✔ Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله
Declared such collective supplication an innovation (Bidʿah) when done consistently after obligatory prayers.
[Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā: 22/519]
✔ Imām Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله
Stated clearly that collective duʿāʾ after Fard Salah was not from the practice of the Prophet ﷺ, and no authentic (Ṣaḥīḥ or Ḥasan) chain exists to support it.
[Zād al-Maʿād: 1/257]
✔ Imām Mālik رحمه الله
As narrated by Imām Ibn Baṭṭāl, he also regarded this practice as Bidʿah (innovation).
[Fatḥ al-Bārī: 2/326]
✔ Imām al-Shāṭibī رحمه الله
Said that regular collective supplication after Salah is not an action of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
[Al-Iʿtiṣām: 1/352]
✔ Saudi Permanent Committee for Iftāʾ
Stated: “We are unaware of any evidence that proves the legitimacy of this practice.”
[Al-Fatāwā al-Islāmiyyah: 1/290]
✔ ʿAllāmah Anwar Shāh Kashmīrī رحمه الله
Said: “The collective duʿāʾ as practiced today has no basis in Sharīʿah.”
[Al-ʿUrf al-Shadhī: p. 86]
❖ Individual duʿāʾ after Salah is permissible and recommended.
❖ Regular, structured collective duʿāʾ after Fard prayers is not established from the Prophet ﷺ and is considered an innovation by many reliable scholars.
❖ When practiced occasionally without belief in its necessity, some scholars may allow it, but making it a fixed ritual contradicts the Prophetic way.
❀ Collective Duʿāʾ After Fard (Obligatory) Salah ❀
The practice of collective supplication led by the Imam with the congregation (muqtadis) after Fard prayers is not authentically established from the Prophet ﷺ or his Companions رضي الله عنهم. Due to this absence of precedent, some scholars have declared it an innovation (Bidʿah).
Two Distinct Scenarios (As Explained by Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله):
➊ An individual making duʿāʾ after Salah, whether the Imam or any congregant, such as duʿāʾ of Istikhārah, etc. — This is permissible.
➋ The Imam and congregation jointly engaging in duʿāʾ after the Fard prayer — This, according to the scholars, was not practiced by the Prophet ﷺ.
He ﷺ would recite the post-prayer adhkār, and none of the Companions have reported that he led a collective duʿāʾ after obligatory prayers. If this had been his regular practice, the Companions, Tabiʿīn, and scholars would have narrated it — just as they have preserved and transmitted even lesser matters of his Sunnah.
[Al-Fatāwā al-Kubrā: 1/158]Statements of Leading Scholars:
✔ Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله
Declared such collective supplication an innovation (Bidʿah) when done consistently after obligatory prayers.
[Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā: 22/519]✔ Imām Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله
Stated clearly that collective duʿāʾ after Fard Salah was not from the practice of the Prophet ﷺ, and no authentic (Ṣaḥīḥ or Ḥasan) chain exists to support it.
[Zād al-Maʿād: 1/257]✔ Imām Mālik رحمه الله
As narrated by Imām Ibn Baṭṭāl, he also regarded this practice as Bidʿah (innovation).
[Fatḥ al-Bārī: 2/326]✔ Imām al-Shāṭibī رحمه الله
Said that regular collective supplication after Salah is not an action of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
[Al-Iʿtiṣām: 1/352]✔ Saudi Permanent Committee for Iftāʾ
Stated: “We are unaware of any evidence that proves the legitimacy of this practice.”
[Al-Fatāwā al-Islāmiyyah: 1/290]✔ ʿAllāmah Anwar Shāh Kashmīrī رحمه الله
Said: “The collective duʿāʾ as practiced today has no basis in Sharīʿah.”
[Al-ʿUrf al-Shadhī: p. 86]
Summary of the Ruling:
❖ Individual duʿāʾ after Salah is permissible and recommended.
❖ Regular, structured collective duʿāʾ after Fard prayers is not established from the Prophet ﷺ and is considered an innovation by many reliable scholars.
❖ When practiced occasionally without belief in its necessity, some scholars may allow it, but making it a fixed ritual contradicts the Prophetic way.
