As I sit on my prayer mat, having just completed my Salah, I often find myself longing to stay in that peaceful state a little longer. That’s when I turn to Dhikr after Salah—a powerful way to extend my connection with Allah.
Dhikr isn’t just a ritual; it’s an intimate conversation with our Creator, a means to cleanse the heart and bring tranquility to the soul. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) strongly encouraged post-Salah Dhikr, and it holds immense spiritual benefits. In this detailed guide, I’ll take you through the most authentic forms of Dhikr after Salah, their meanings, authentic references, and how incorporating them into your daily routine can transform your faith.
As always I seek refuge in Allah Almighty from all kinds of harm and pray that He makes my work easy. I also pray that He considers this effort a means of salvation for us in this world and the hereafter. Whatever is good in my writing is entirely a blessing from Allah Almighty, and any faults are due to Satan (Devil) and my own lack of knowledge. JazakAllah. (Thank you).
Dhikr After Salah: What is Dhikr?
The word Dhikr (ذِكْر) in Arabic literally means “remembrance” or “mention.” In an Islamic context, Dhikr refers to the remembrance of Allah through supplications, praises, and recitations that reinforce our faith. Allah commands us in the Quran:
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ذِكْرًۭا كَثِيرًۭا “O you who have believed, remember Allah with much remembrance.” (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:41)
Dhikr after Salah is a specific prescribed set of supplications and praises that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) regularly recited. This Dhikr purifies the heart, strengthens Iman, and earns countless rewards.
Read this post for more detailed about Dhikr, Remembrance of Dhikr: Importance of Dhikr in Islam
The Benefits of Dhikr After Salah
Reciting Dhikr after Salah isn’t just a recommended practice—it’s a gateway to spiritual elevation. Some benefits include:
Forgiveness of Sins: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“Whoever glorifies Allah at the end of every obligatory prayer 33 times, praises Allah 33 times, and magnifies Allah 34 times, his sins will be forgiven, even if they are like the foam of the sea.”
(Sahih Muslim 597)Protection from Shaytan: The devil flees from a heart that constantly remembers Allah.
Increased Rewards: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said that reciting certain supplications after prayer is more beloved to him than anything in the world.
Tranquility and Peace: Dhikr brings a sense of calm and spiritual fulfillment.
List of Authentic Dhikr After Salah
Here’s a list of authentic Dhikr that should be recited after every obligatory Salah:
1. Seeking Forgiveness (Istighfar) – 3 Times
اَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ، اَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ، اَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ
Astaghfirullah, Astaghfirullah, Astaghfirullah
I seek forgiveness from Allah.
(Sahih Muslim 597)
2. The Dua for Peace and Blessings
اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ السَّلَامُ وَمِنْكَ السَّلَامُ، تَبَارَكْتَ يَا ذَا الْجَلَالِ وَالإِكْرَامِ
Allahumma anta as-salamu wa minka as-salam, tabarakta ya dhal-jalali wal-ikram
O Allah, You are Peace, and from You comes peace. Blessed are You, O Possessor of Majesty and Honor.
(Sahih Muslim 591)
3. Ayat al-Kursi (The Verse of the Throne)
Reciting Ayat al-Kursi after Salah is one of the greatest forms of protection.
Ayatul Kursi
Arabic
اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا هُوَ الۡـحَيُّ الۡقَيُّوۡمُؕ لَا تَاۡخُذُهٗ سِنَةٌ وَّلَا نَوۡمٌؕ لَهٗ مَا فِي السَّمٰوٰتِ وَمَا فِي الۡاَرۡضِؕ مَنۡ ذَا الَّذِيۡ يَشۡفَعُ عِنۡدَهٗۤ اِلَّا بِاِذۡنِهٖؕ يَعۡلَمُ مَا بَيۡنَ اَيۡدِيۡهِمۡ وَمَا خَلۡفَهُمۡۚ وَلَا يُحِيۡطُوۡنَ بِشَىۡءٍ مِّنۡ عِلۡمِهٖۤ اِلَّا بِمَا شَآءَ ؕ وَسِعَ كُرۡسِيُّهُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالۡاَرۡضَۚ وَلَا يَـُٔوۡدُهٗ حِفۡظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ الۡعَلِيُّ الۡعَظِيۡمُ
Transliteration
Allāhu lā ilāha illā huwa al-ḥayyul-qayyūm. Lā ta’khudhuhū sinatun walā nawm. Lahu mā fī as-samāwāti wa mā fī al-arḍ. Man dhā alladhī yashfa’u ‘indahu illā bi’idhnih. Ya’lamu mā bayna aydīhim wa mā khalfahum, walā yuḥīṭūna bishay’in min ‘ilmihi illā bimā shā’a. Wasi’a kursiyyuhu as-samāwāti wal-arḍ, walā ya’ūduhū ḥifẓuhumā, wa huwa al-‘aliyyu al-‘aẓīm.
Translation
“Allah! There is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of [all] existence. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is before them and what will be after them, and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills. His Kursi (throne) extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.”
Reference: Surah Al-Baqarah (2:255)
Narrated Abu Umamah (RA):Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: “Whoever recites Ayat al-Kursi at the end of every obligatory prayer, nothing but death will prevent him from entering Paradise.” [An-Nasa’i reported it, and Ibn Hibban graded it Sahih (authentic). (Bulugul Mram, 220)
4. Tasbih, Tahmid, and Takbir (33x Each)
سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ 33×
SubhanAllah
Glory be to Allah.اَلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ 33×
Alhamdulillah
Praise be to Allah.اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ 34×
Allahu Akbar
Allah is the Greatest.
5. La Ilaha Illallah (Declaration of Faith)
لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيْكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيْرٌ
La ilaha illa Allah wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahu al-mulku wa lahu al-hamdu wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadir.
There is no deity except Allah, alone, with no partner. To Him belongs the dominion and praise, and He is over all things capable.
6. Reciting Surah Falaq and Surah Nas
Narrated Uqbah ibn Amir: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) commanded me to recite Mu’awwidhatan (the last two surahs of the Qur’an) after every prayer. (Sunan Abi Dawud 1523)
Surah Al-Falaq (الفلق) – The Daybreak
Arabic:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ
مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ
وَمِنْ شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ
وَمِنْ شَرِّ النَّفَّاثَاتِ فِي الْعُقَدِ
وَمِنْ شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ
English Translation:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Say, I seek refuge with the Lord of the daybreak,
From the evil of what He has created,
And from the evil of darkness when it spreads,
And from the evil of those who blow on knots (practicing witchcraft),
And from the evil of an envier when he envies.
Surah An-Nas (الناس) – Mankind
Arabic:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ
مَلِكِ النَّاسِ
إِلَٰهِ النَّاسِ
مِنْ شَرِّ الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ
الَّذِي يُوَسْوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ النَّاسِ
مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ
English Translation:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Say, I seek refuge with the Lord of mankind,
The King of mankind,
The God of mankind,
From the evil of the retreating whisperer,
Who whispers in the hearts of mankind,
From among the jinn and mankind.
Some Supplications After Obligatory Prayers
رَبِّ قِنِي عَذَابَكَ يَوْمَ تَبْعَثُ – أَوْ تَجْمَعُ – عِبَادَكَ O my Lord! Save me from Your torment on the Day when You will raise or gather Your servants. (Sahih Muslim 709a)
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْكُفْرِ وَالْفَقْرِ وَعَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ O Allah, I seek refuge with You from disbelief, poverty, and the torment of the grave. (Sunan an-Nasa’i 1347)
اللَّهُمَّ أَعِنِّي عَلَى ذِكْرِكَ وَشُكْرِكَ وَحُسْنِ عِبَادَتِكَ O Allah, help me in remembering You, in giving You thanks, and in worshipping You well. (Sunan Abu Dawood 1522)
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْجُبْنِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْبُخْلِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ أَنْ أُرَدَّ إِلَى أَرْذَلِ الْعُمُرِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ فِتْنَةِ الدُّنْيَا، وَعَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ O Allah, I seek refuge with You from cowardice, and I seek refuge with You from miserliness, and I seek refuge with You from reaching a degraded geriatric old age, and I seek refuge with You from the afflictions of the world and from the punishment in the grave. (Sahih al-Bukhari 6374)
Final Thoughts: Making Dhikr a Daily Habit
The post-Salah Dhikr is a golden opportunity for spiritual elevation. Whether you are new to this practice or have been doing it for years, strive for sincerity rather than just numbers.
I hope this guide inspires you to make Dhikr a daily habit. Remember, every moment spent in Allah’s remembrance brings immense rewards and eternal peace.
You can check out this page, Dua and Dhikr
Assalamu Alaikum Owa Rahmatulla!
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FAQs section about “Dhikr After Salah”
- What is the importance of Dhikr after Salah?
Dhikr after Salah helps strengthen one’s connection with Allah, brings peace to the heart, and increases spiritual rewards. It is a Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and a means of seeking Allah’s mercy and forgiveness. - Which Dhikr should be recited after Salah?
Common Dhikr includes: - SubhanAllah (33 times)
- Alhamdulillah (33 times)
- Allahu Akbar (34 times)
- Ayat-ul-Kursi
- Surah Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, and An-Nas
- Why do we say ‘Astaghfirullah’ three times after Salah?
Saying ‘Astaghfirullah’ three times after Salah is a way to seek forgiveness for any shortcomings in our prayer. It follows the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, who would immediately seek forgiveness after completing his prayer. - Is Dhikr after Salah mandatory?
Dhikr after Salah is highly recommended (Sunnah) but not obligatory. However, regularly practicing it brings immense rewards and spiritual benefits. - Can Dhikr after Salah be done silently?
Yes, Dhikr can be done silently or aloud. The Prophet ﷺ sometimes recited Dhikr aloud to teach the companions, but it can also be done in one’s heart or in a low voice. - What is the significance of reciting Ayat-ul-Kursi after Salah?
The Prophet ﷺ mentioned that whoever recites Ayat-ul-Kursi after each obligatory prayer will have a guaranteed place in Jannah, unless they die before achieving it (Sahih Hadith – An-Nasa’i). - Is it necessary to use a Tasbih (prayer beads) for Dhikr?
No, using a Tasbih is not necessary but can be helpful in keeping count. The Prophet ﷺ and his companions sometimes counted on their fingers, which is also a recommended practice. - Can I do Dhikr after Salah while walking or doing other activities?
Yes, Dhikr is not limited to sitting in one place. It can be done while walking, driving, or even working, as long as the heart remains engaged in the remembrance of Allah. - What are the benefits of consistent Dhikr after Salah?
- Increases Iman (faith) and Taqwa (piety)
- Brings inner peace and tranquility
- Erases sins and earns immense rewards
- Strengthens the connection with Allah
- Protects from Shaytan and hardships
- How long should Dhikr after Salah take?
It usually takes only a few minutes to complete the essential post-Salah Dhikr. However, one can extend it by adding extra supplications and additional remembrances according to personal preference.
