❖ Question:
Is it permissible to say “Yā Ḥayy Yā Qayyūm” after every two rak‘ahs of Tarawih?
And is the following supplication proven to be read after every four rak‘ahs?
“Subḥāna dhī al-mulkūti wal-ʿaẓamah, subḥāna alladhī lā yanāmu walā yamūtu, yā Mujīr yā Mujīr, ajirnā min al-nār, aṣ-ṣalātu ʿalā Muḥammad, yā durūd bar Muḥammad.”
❖ Answer:
Alḥamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd:
These specific phrases and supplications are not proven in any authentic source of the Sunnah — whether in Tarawih or any other prayer.
The phrase “Yā Ḥayy Yā Qayyūm” is authentically reported in general du‘as.
However, reciting it specifically after every two rak‘ahs of Tarawih has no basis in the Sunnah.
The best practice after prayers is to seek forgiveness, as was the habit of the Prophet ﷺ.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to say after every prayer:
“Astaghfirullāh, Astaghfirullāh, Astaghfirullāh.”
→ (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Hadith 591)
The supplication:
“Subḥāna dhī al-mulkūti wal-ʿaẓamah…” etc.,
has no Shar‘i basis in Tarawih or any other prayer.
These words were quoted by Ibn ʿĀbidīn in Radd al-Muḥtār (1/474) from Qahistānī, but no chain of narration or evidence is provided.
Likewise, this phrase appears in al-Madkhal (2/145) and Ḍiyāʾ al-Nūr (p. 223), again without any proof from the Qur’an or Sunnah.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ led Tarawih in congregation for only four nights, yet none of these supplications were reported from him.
Nor did he command raising voices with specific adhkār, as is practiced in some mosques today—causing disturbance and noise.
It is necessary to preserve the sanctity of mosques and avoid innovations in religion.
We are all obligated to follow the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, as all goodness lies in adherence to the Sunnah, and abandoning innovation is obligatory.
Allah says:
“Whatever the Messenger gives you, take it, and whatever he forbids you from, abstain from it.”
→ (Sūrah al-Ḥashr: 7)
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever introduces into this matter of ours something which does not belong to it—it is rejected.”
→ (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 2697, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1718)
◈ There is no Shar‘i evidence for reciting “Yā Ḥayy Yā Qayyūm” after every two rak‘ahs of Tarawih.
◈ The supplication after every four rak‘ahs is also not proven in any authentic source.
◈ It is better to adhere to authentic post-prayer adhkār, such as seeking forgiveness and other established supplications.
◈ Avoiding innovations is crucial, and we must only adopt what is authentically proven from the Prophet ﷺ and his companions.
(References: al-Madkhal, Ḍiyāʾ al-Nūr, Radd al-Muḥtār, Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Musnad Aḥmad)
وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
Is it permissible to say “Yā Ḥayy Yā Qayyūm” after every two rak‘ahs of Tarawih?
And is the following supplication proven to be read after every four rak‘ahs?
“Subḥāna dhī al-mulkūti wal-ʿaẓamah, subḥāna alladhī lā yanāmu walā yamūtu, yā Mujīr yā Mujīr, ajirnā min al-nār, aṣ-ṣalātu ʿalā Muḥammad, yā durūd bar Muḥammad.”
❖ Answer:
Alḥamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd:
These specific phrases and supplications are not proven in any authentic source of the Sunnah — whether in Tarawih or any other prayer.
✿ Ruling on Reciting “Yā Ḥayy Yā Qayyūm” After Every Two Rak‘ahs:
The phrase “Yā Ḥayy Yā Qayyūm” is authentically reported in general du‘as.
However, reciting it specifically after every two rak‘ahs of Tarawih has no basis in the Sunnah.
The best practice after prayers is to seek forgiveness, as was the habit of the Prophet ﷺ.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to say after every prayer:“Astaghfirullāh, Astaghfirullāh, Astaghfirullāh.”
→ (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Hadith 591)
✿ Ruling on the Specific Du‘a After Every Four Rak‘ahs:
The supplication:
“Subḥāna dhī al-mulkūti wal-ʿaẓamah…” etc.,
has no Shar‘i basis in Tarawih or any other prayer.
These words were quoted by Ibn ʿĀbidīn in Radd al-Muḥtār (1/474) from Qahistānī, but no chain of narration or evidence is provided.
Likewise, this phrase appears in al-Madkhal (2/145) and Ḍiyāʾ al-Nūr (p. 223), again without any proof from the Qur’an or Sunnah.
✿ The Prophet ﷺ's Practice in Tarawih:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ led Tarawih in congregation for only four nights, yet none of these supplications were reported from him.
Nor did he command raising voices with specific adhkār, as is practiced in some mosques today—causing disturbance and noise.
It is necessary to preserve the sanctity of mosques and avoid innovations in religion.
We are all obligated to follow the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, as all goodness lies in adherence to the Sunnah, and abandoning innovation is obligatory.
Allah says:“Whatever the Messenger gives you, take it, and whatever he forbids you from, abstain from it.”
→ (Sūrah al-Ḥashr: 7)
The Prophet ﷺ said:“Whoever introduces into this matter of ours something which does not belong to it—it is rejected.”
→ (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 2697, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1718)
Conclusion:
◈ There is no Shar‘i evidence for reciting “Yā Ḥayy Yā Qayyūm” after every two rak‘ahs of Tarawih.
◈ The supplication after every four rak‘ahs is also not proven in any authentic source.
◈ It is better to adhere to authentic post-prayer adhkār, such as seeking forgiveness and other established supplications.
◈ Avoiding innovations is crucial, and we must only adopt what is authentically proven from the Prophet ﷺ and his companions.
(References: al-Madkhal, Ḍiyāʾ al-Nūr, Radd al-Muḥtār, Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Musnad Aḥmad)
وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
