Authored by: Sheikh Mubashir Ahmed Rabbani (may Allah protect him)
Question:
Could you clarify the Shariah perspective regarding the common practice of congregational Du'a after the obligatory prayers?
Answer:
In contemporary times, the practice of congregational Du'a, where the Imam and followers collectively supplicate after obligatory prayers, has no support from any authentic chain of narration from the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Furthermore, such a practice is not evidenced from the actions of the noble Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). The Prophet ﷺ led five prayers daily, with the Companions following him in these prayers. Had there been a practice of congregational Du'a, the Companions would have certainly mentioned it, as they detailed other prayer-related issues. Some individuals have gone so far as to consider those who do not engage in this practice to be negligent or sinful. However, neither an authentic Hadith nor a weak one establishes the Imam and followers performing congregational Du'a after the prayer.
The Prophet ﷺ did, however, prescribe certain adhkar (remembrances) to be recited after prayers, which we, by the grace of Allah, adhere to. Some of these include:
① Saying "Allahu Akbar" after each prayer and seeking forgiveness three times.
② Reciting: اللّٰهُمَّ أَنْتَ السَّلَامُ وَمِنْكَ السَّلَامُ، تَبَارَكْتَ يَا ذَا الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ
③ Reciting Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas
④ Saying: رَبِّ اَعِنِّيْ عَلٰي ذِكْرِكَ وَشُكْرِكَ وَحُسْنِ عِبَادَتِكَ
⑤ Reciting Ayat-ul-Kursi
⑥ Saying "SubhanAllah" 33 times, "Alhamdulillah" 33 times, and "Allahu Akbar" 34 times
Several narrations indicate that the Prophet ﷺ would sometimes leave immediately after prayer, as reported in the following narrations:
Position of Scholars
Imam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) emphasized that practices not observed during the Prophet’s time, such as the congregational Du'a led by the Imam and followers, are innovations (bid'ah). He stated that, while dhikr aloud is established, congregational Du'a is not.
He further wrote:
"The Du'a made collectively by the Imam and the followers after the obligatory prayers was never performed by the Prophet ﷺ. If he had done so, his Companions, and subsequently the scholars, would have conveyed this."
Similarly, Imam Ibn Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) clarified:
"The practice of Du'a after the prayer, facing the Qiblah or facing the followers, was not part of the Prophet’s ﷺ guidance and has not been transmitted from him through any authentic or sound chain."
Some Deobandi scholars have also noted that while individual Du'a after obligatory prayers is established without raising hands and without congregational form, the congregational practice as commonly observed today is not substantiated.
Conclusion
The collective Du'a after obligatory prayers, when considered a Sunnah, is incorrect. The authentic remembrances should be adhered to, and research should be conducted on matters to avoid blind adherence. Following the teachings of the Prophet ﷺ, the Companions, and the righteous predecessors is imperative. May Allah grant us the ability to act according to true knowledge. (Ameen)
Question:
Could you clarify the Shariah perspective regarding the common practice of congregational Du'a after the obligatory prayers?
Answer:
In contemporary times, the practice of congregational Du'a, where the Imam and followers collectively supplicate after obligatory prayers, has no support from any authentic chain of narration from the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Furthermore, such a practice is not evidenced from the actions of the noble Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). The Prophet ﷺ led five prayers daily, with the Companions following him in these prayers. Had there been a practice of congregational Du'a, the Companions would have certainly mentioned it, as they detailed other prayer-related issues. Some individuals have gone so far as to consider those who do not engage in this practice to be negligent or sinful. However, neither an authentic Hadith nor a weak one establishes the Imam and followers performing congregational Du'a after the prayer.
The Prophet ﷺ did, however, prescribe certain adhkar (remembrances) to be recited after prayers, which we, by the grace of Allah, adhere to. Some of these include:
① Saying "Allahu Akbar" after each prayer and seeking forgiveness three times.
② Reciting: اللّٰهُمَّ أَنْتَ السَّلَامُ وَمِنْكَ السَّلَامُ، تَبَارَكْتَ يَا ذَا الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ
③ Reciting Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas
④ Saying: رَبِّ اَعِنِّيْ عَلٰي ذِكْرِكَ وَشُكْرِكَ وَحُسْنِ عِبَادَتِكَ
⑤ Reciting Ayat-ul-Kursi
⑥ Saying "SubhanAllah" 33 times, "Alhamdulillah" 33 times, and "Allahu Akbar" 34 times
Several narrations indicate that the Prophet ﷺ would sometimes leave immediately after prayer, as reported in the following narrations:
- In one narration from Aqbah (may Allah be pleased with him), he said: "I performed the Asr prayer behind the Prophet ﷺ in Madinah. Upon concluding the prayer with the taslim, he stood up swiftly and passed over the people to reach one of his wives' chambers." (Bukhari, Book of Adhan)
- Another narration from Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reports: "The Prophet ﷺ led us in one of the `Asr prayers, and after completing two rak'ahs, he gave taslim and stood up, leaning against a wooden support in the mosque as if he was upset." (Bukhari, Book of Prayer)
Position of Scholars
Imam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) emphasized that practices not observed during the Prophet’s time, such as the congregational Du'a led by the Imam and followers, are innovations (bid'ah). He stated that, while dhikr aloud is established, congregational Du'a is not.
He further wrote:
"The Du'a made collectively by the Imam and the followers after the obligatory prayers was never performed by the Prophet ﷺ. If he had done so, his Companions, and subsequently the scholars, would have conveyed this."
Similarly, Imam Ibn Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) clarified:
"The practice of Du'a after the prayer, facing the Qiblah or facing the followers, was not part of the Prophet’s ﷺ guidance and has not been transmitted from him through any authentic or sound chain."
Some Deobandi scholars have also noted that while individual Du'a after obligatory prayers is established without raising hands and without congregational form, the congregational practice as commonly observed today is not substantiated.
Conclusion
The collective Du'a after obligatory prayers, when considered a Sunnah, is incorrect. The authentic remembrances should be adhered to, and research should be conducted on matters to avoid blind adherence. Following the teachings of the Prophet ﷺ, the Companions, and the righteous predecessors is imperative. May Allah grant us the ability to act according to true knowledge. (Ameen)