What Should One Do Immediately After Finishing One’s Obligatory Prayer (fard)?

Question: What should one do immediately after finishing one’s obligatory prayer (fard)?

Answer:

Wa alaykum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

Dear questioner,

Thank you for your important question.

After the ritual prayer (salat), it is recommended in the Shafi’i school to sit down in one’s place of worship and do one’s prayers (adhkhar) before one does one’s supererogatory prayers (nafl).

For the Hanafi schools, please see:
https://seekersguidance.org/answers/hanafi-fiqh/when-does-one-recite-the-post-prayer-tasbihat/

There are many, many recommended prayers (adhkhar) after the prayer. Here follows a selection:

“I seek forgiveness from Allah.” three times. [Sahih Muslim]

Allahumma antas salam wa minak assalam tabarakta ya dhal jalali wal ikram

“O Allah, You are the Peace, and from You is peace. How blessed You are, O You who is possessed of majesty and generosity!” [Sahih Muslim]

لا إلهَ إِلاَّ الله وَحْدَهُ لا شَريكَ لَهُ، لَهُ المُلْكُ وَلَهُ الحَمْدُ وَهُوَ على كُلّ شئ قَدِيرٌ، اللَّهُمَّ لا مانِعَ لِمَا أعْطَيْتَ، وَلاَ معطي لما مَنَعْتَ، وَلا يَنْفَعُ ذا الجد مِنْكَ الجَدُّ

La ilaha illal Lahu wahdahu la sharika lah. Lahul mulku wa lakal hamdu wa huwa ala kulli shayin qadeer. Allahumma la mania li ma atayt, wa la mutiya lima manat, wa la yanfau dhal jaddi minkal jadd.

“There is no god but Allah, alone without a partner. His is the dominion, His is all praise, and He has the power to do anything. O Allah, there is absolutely no one who could hold back what You give, and absolutely no one who could give what you hold back. Wealth does not benefit the wealthy if You withhold from them.” [Bukhari and Muslim]

Subhanallah

How glorious is Allah! (thirty-three times)

الحَمدُ لِله

Alhamdulillah
All praise be to Allah! (thirty-three times)

اللهُ أَكبَر

Allahu akbar

Allah is the greatest! (thirty-four times) [Muslim]

To start one’s prayers (dua) with praise of Allah and sending blessings on the Messenger of Allah. [Ibn Hibban and others]

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الجُبْنِ، وَأعُوذُ بِكَ أنْ أُرَدَّ إلى أَرْذَلِ العمُرِ، وأعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ فتْنَةِ الدُّنْيا وأعُوذُ بِكَ منْ عَذَابِ القَبْرِ

Allahumma, inni audhu bika min al jubni wa audhu bika an arudda ila ardhal il umur, wa audhu bika min fitnat id Dunya wa audhu bika min adhab il qabr.

“O Allah, I seek refuge in You from cowardice, I seek refuge in You lest I ever become old and decrepit, I seek refuge in You from the trials of This Life, and I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the grave.”

للَّهُمَّ أعِنِّي على ذِكْرِكَ وَشُكْرِكَ وَحُسْنِ عِبادَتِكَ

Allahumma, ainni ala dhikrika wa shukrika wa husni ibadatik.

‘O Allah, help me remember you, thank you, and worship you in the best of manners.’ (Abu Dawud and Nasai)

And to say after praying Maghrib and Fajr,

اللَّهُمَّ أجِرْنِي مِنَ النَّارِ

Allahumma, ajirni minan nar.

O Allah, protect me from the Hell-Fire. (seven times) (Abu Dawud)

The most important recommended act of the ritual prayer and making a real prayer by genuinely pleading Allah, loving Allah, fearing Allah, and putting all one’s hopes and aspirations in Allah.
Please see:
https://seekersguidance.org/answers/general-counsel/how-to-attain-presence-of-heart-in-prayer/

I pray this helps.

[Ustadh] Farid Dingle

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Farid Dingle has completed extensive years of study in the sciences of the Arabic language and the various Islamic Sciences. During his studies, he also earned a CIFE Certificate in Islamic Finance. Over the years he has developed a masterful ability to craft lessons that help non-Arabic speakers gain a deep understanding of the language. He currently teaches courses in the Arabic Language.