The Ruling on Requesting Collective Duʿāʾ After Ṣalāh

Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil – Discussion on Ṣalāh, Vol. 1, p. 208

❖ Question:​

If a follower (muqtadī) requests the imām to make duʿāʾ for him after prayer, and then the imām along with the congregation all raise their hands and make duʿāʾ together, is this permissible? Especially since the Prophet ﷺ once made duʿāʾ for rain upon a person’s request?

❖ Answer:​

Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʿammā baʿd!

• If such an act is done occasionally and coincidentally, then there is some allowance for it.
• However, if this is done intentionally and regularly after every obligatory prayer—where someone makes a request and the imām along with the congregation consistently raise their hands for duʿāʾ—then this practice is not established from the Prophet ﷺ.

This turns into a means (ḥīlah) of introducing an unproven practice and giving it recognition, which should be avoided.

✦ Prophetic Guidance​

The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said:


«كُلُّ الْخَيْرِ فِي الْاِتِّبَاعِ»
"All goodness lies in following (the Sunnah)."


And he ﷺ said:


«وَخَيْرُ الْهَدْيِ هَدْيُ مُحَمَّدٍ ﷺ»
"The best guidance is the guidance of Muḥammad ﷺ."

Conclusion​

• Occasional collective duʿāʾ upon a specific request is permissible.
• But making it a habit or regular practice after every ṣalāh is not Sunnah and should be avoided.

ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب