❖ Detailed Analysis of 4 Narrations Regarding Congregational Du‘ā After Salah
Source: Fatawa ‘Ilmiyyah, Vol. 1, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, p. 463
Question:
Is it established that the Imam and the congregation should raise their hands and supplicate collectively after obligatory prayers? If this is done occasionally and not consistently, is it permissible? What is the correct practice in this matter? And if someone does not participate in the congregational du‘ā, will he be sinful?
(Question by: Abu Tahir Muhammadi, Khanewal)
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
Absence of Evidence for Congregational Du‘ā After Salah
◈ The practice of the Imam and congregation jointly raising hands in supplication after obligatory Salah is not established from the Prophet ﷺ.
◈ Statements of Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Taymiyyah and Ḥāfiẓ Ibn al-Qayyim (رحمهما الله):
"وأما الدعاء بعد السلام من الصلوة مستقبل القبلة أو لمأمومين، فلم يكن ذلك من هديه صلى الله عليه وسلم أصلا، ولا روي عنه بإسناد صحيح ولا حسن.”
(Zād al-Maʿād, Vol. 1, p. 257, Mu’assasat al-Risālah, Beirut)
➡ Meaning: After finishing the prayer, supplicating while facing the Qiblah or the congregation is neither from the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, nor is there any authentic or sound chain of transmission to support it.
◈ Since this practice is neither proven from the Prophet ﷺ nor from the Salaf al-Ṣāliḥīn, insisting upon it or blaming those who do not participate is unjustified.
Analysis of Narrations Regarding Individual Supplication and Raising Hands
✿ Narration ①:
“I saw ‘Abdullāh ibn al-Zubayr and saw a man raising his hands...”
(Tuhfat al-Aḥwadhī, Vol. 1, p. 245; Majmaʿ al-Zawā’id, Vol. 10, p. 169; Referenced via al-Ṭabarānī)
◈ Analysis:
- The full chain of transmission is missing in the printed version of al-Muʿjam by al-Ṭabarānī.
- Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Kathīr preserved its chain, but the narrator al-Faḍl ibn Sulaymān al-Namīrī is considered weak by the majority of scholars.
- Hence, this narration cannot be relied upon.
(al-Silsilah al-Ḍaʿīfah, al-Albānī, 6/56, No. 2544)
✿ Narration ②:
“The prayer is two by two... and raise your hands to your Lord...”
(Sunan al-Tirmidhī, Vol. 1, p. 299, Ḥadīth 385)
◈ Analysis:
- Narrator: ‘Abdullāh ibn Nāfiʿ ibn al-ʿUmayyāʾ is unknown (majhūl).
- Imām al-Bukhārī said: “Lam yaṣiḥ ḥadīthuhu” — “His narration is not authentic.”
(al-Tārīkh al-Kabīr, 5/213) - Imām Ibn Khuzaymah also expressed doubt over its authenticity.
➡ Therefore, this narration is also weak and rejected.
✿ Narration ③:
“He raised his hands after completing the prayer while facing the Qiblah...”
(Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr, Vol. 1, p. 542; Tafsīr of Sūrah al-Nisā’, Āyah 98; Referenced via Ibn Abī Ḥātim and Tuhfat al-Aḥwadhī)
◈ Analysis:
- Narrator: ‘Alī ibn Zayd ibn Judʿān, declared weak by the majority.
- Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar: “Ḍaʿīf”
(Taqrīb al-Tahdhīb: 4734) - In Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, he is only followed up by a trustworthy narrator, hence not an independent proof.
➡ Thus, the narration is not a sound basis for action.
✿ Narration ④:
“I prayed with the Prophet... he turned and raised his hands and supplicated...”
(Fatāwā Nadhīriyyah, Vol. 1, p. 566; Referenced via Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah)
◈ Analysis:
- The narration is only found up to the word “turned (انحرف)” in Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah.
- The added phrase “and he raised his hands and supplicated” is not part of the original wording.
➡ These additional words are likely a narrator’s error and are not present in authentic sources.
Status of Supplication With Raised Hands After Salah
◈ Post-Salah adhkār and supplications are mutawātir from the Prophet ﷺ.
◈ Raising hands in du‘ā is generally well established.
Example:
((اذا سألتم الله فاسألوه ببطون أكفكم ولا تسألوه بظهورها))
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Bāb al-Du‘āʾ, Ḥadīth 1486, with ḥasan chain)
⚠ A Weak Narration Regarding Collective Du‘ā
((لا يجتمع ملاء فيدعوا بعضهم ويؤمن البعض إلا أجابهم الله))
(al-Mustadrak al-Ḥākim, Vol. 3, p. 347, Ḥadīth 5478; Majmaʿ al-Zawāʾid, Vol. 10, p. 170)
◈ Analysis:
- The chain is disconnected (munqaṭiʿ).
- ‘Abdullāh ibn Hubayrah did not meet Ḥabīb ibn Maslamah (رضي الله عنه).
➡ Hence, this narration is not acceptable as proof.
Summary of Research
① Congregational du‘ā after obligatory or optional prayers is not established.
② Narrations involving raising hands for individual du‘ā are weak.
③ Arguments in favor of congregational du‘ā rely on general texts or unauthenticated reports.
Preferred View (Rājih Rāʾīyah):
➡ Occasional collective supplication at someone’s request or on special occasions is permissible.
➡ Making it a regular practice is not correct.
Ruling on Supplication After Friday Prayers or Gatherings:
◈ Based on the same principle, habitual congregational du‘ā is not legislated, though occasional instances are allowed.
🖐 Wiping the Face After Du‘ā
◈ This practice is established from two Companions:
▪ ‘Abdullāh ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنه)
▪ ‘Abdullāh ibn al-Zubayr (رضي الله عنه)
(al-Adab al-Mufrad by al-Bukhārī, Bāb 276, Ḥadīth 609, with ḥasan chain)
➡ Therefore, labeling it as an ignorant practice is incorrect.
(Shahādat, June 2000)
Conclusion
✿ Regular practice of congregational du‘ā after Salah is contrary to the method of the Prophet ﷺ and the righteous predecessors.
✿ Individual supplication is permitted, but even in that, the narrations about raising hands are weak.
✿ Occasional collective du‘ā is not objectionable, provided it is not considered obligatory.
ھذا ما عندي، واللّٰه أعلم بالصواب.
