Dhikr after Salah is a meaningful way to continue remembering Allah after completing the daily prayers. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) taught specific words of remembrance and supplications to recite after prayer, including seeking forgiveness, praising Allah, declaring His oneness, and glorifying Him.
Why Remember Allah After Salah?
Prayer provides a regular opportunity to worship Allah, and the moments following Salah offer another opportunity to remember Him through dhikr and dua. The Quran encourages believers to remember Allah after completing their prayers, while authentic hadiths explain specific words and recitation counts.
Regular dhikr after Salah can help you:
- Seek forgiveness: Begin by asking Allah to forgive your shortcomings.
- Strengthen your faith: Repeat words that affirm Allah's oneness, sovereignty, and power.
- Express gratitude: Praise Allah for His blessings and acknowledges His greatness.
- Earn spiritual rewards: Authentic hadiths describe the rewards associated with particular forms of remembrance.
- Build a consistent worship routine: Following a familiar sequence makes it easier to remember your adhkar after every obligatory prayer.
Authentic Core Adhkar After Prayer
Several authentic post-prayer duas (post prayer duas) are reported in the Sunnah. The following supplications provide a practical starting point.
1. Seek Allah's Forgiveness Three Times
Thawban (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that when the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) finished his prayer, he would seek forgiveness three times before saying the following supplication. This narration is recorded in Sahih Muslim.
Arabic:
أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ
Transliteration: Astaghfirullah.
English meaning: I seek the forgiveness of Allah.
How many times? Three times.
Purpose: This dhikr expresses a request for Allah's forgiveness and reminds Muslims to turn to Him for mercy after completing their prayer.
2. The Supplication of Peace and Blessing
After seeking forgiveness three times, recite:
Arabic:
اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ السَّلَامُ وَمِنْكَ السَّلَامُ، تَبَارَكْتَ يَا ذَا الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ
Transliteration: Allahumma anta as-salam wa minka as-salam, tabarakta ya dhal-jalali wal-ikram.
English meaning: O Allah, You are the Source of Peace, and from You comes peace. Blessed are You, O Possessor of Majesty and Honour.
Purpose: This supplication praises Allah, acknowledges that peace comes from Him, and recognizes His majesty and perfection.
3. Affirm Allah's Oneness and Power
One of the established adhkar after prayer is the declaration of Allah's oneness and sovereignty.
Arabic:
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Transliteration: La ilaha illa Allah wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa huwa ala kulli shay'in qadir.
English meaning: None has the right to be worshipped but Allah alone. He has no partner. His is the dominion, and His is the praise, and He is Able to do all things.
Purpose: This dhikr affirms that Allah alone deserves worship, that all dominion belongs to Him, and that He has power over everything.
4- A related supplication reported after prayer is:
Arabic:
اللَّهُمَّ لَا مَانِعَ لِمَا أَعْطَيْتَ، وَلَا مُعْطِيَ لِمَا مَنَعْتَ، وَلَا يَنْفَعُ ذَا الْجَدِّ مِنْكَ الْجَدُّ
Transliteration: Allahumma la mani'a lima a'tayta, wa la mu'tiya lima mana'ta, wa la yanfa'u dhal-jaddi minka al-jadd.
English meaning: O Allah, none can withhold what You give, none can give what You withhold, and wealth or status cannot benefit anyone independently of You.
Purpose: It reminds Muslims that giving and withholding are in Allah's hands and that worldly wealth and status cannot replace His favour.
Tasbih Counts After Prayer: What to Recite and How Many Times
Tasbih is the act of glorifying Allah. Along with tahmid (praising Allah) and takbir (declaring Allah's greatness), it forms a widely practised part of the adhkar after prayer.
1. SubhanAllah — 33 Times
Arabic: سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ
Transliteration: SubhanAllah.
English meaning: Glory be to Allah.
Purpose: To declare Allah free from every imperfection and glorify His perfection.
2. Alhamdulillah — 33 Times
Arabic: الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ
Transliteration: Alhamdulillah.
English meaning: All praise belongs to Allah.
Purpose: To praise Allah and express gratitude for His blessings.
3. Allahu Akbar — 33 Times
Arabic: اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Transliteration: Allahu Akbar.
English meaning: Allah is the Greatest.
Purpose: To affirm Allah's greatness above all creation.
4. Complete the Count With the Declaration of Tawhid
After reciting each of the three phrases 33 times, say the following once:
Arabic:
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
English meaning: None has the right to be worshipped but Allah alone. He has no partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He is Able to do all things.
This completes 100 recitations: 33 + 33 + 33 + 1. Sahih Muslim records the virtue of this practice, including the forgiveness of sins even if they are like the foam of the sea.
What Is Tasbih Fatimah?
Tasbih Fatimah is a well-known form of dhikr associated with Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her). It involves praising and glorifying Allah through three short phrases.
Tasbih Fatimah Recitation and Counts
- SubhanAllah (سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ): 33 times.
- Alhamdulillah (الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ): 33 times.
- Allahu Akbar (اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ): 34 times.
How Does Tasbih Fatimah Differ From Other Post-Prayer Adhkar?
There are two established counting patterns to distinguish:
- 33–33–34: SubhanAllah 33 times, Alhamdulillah 33 times, and Allahu Akbar 34 times. This form is particularly well known as a dhikr before sleeping.
- 33–33–33 + 1: Recite SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, and Allahu Akbar 33 times each, then say the declaration of tawhid once to complete 100 recitations. This is another established form of dhikr after obligatory prayers.
Both forms are reported in the Sunnah. Learning their different counts helps you follow each practice accurately.
Know more about: Alhamdulillah Meaning
Ayatul Kursi and Short Surahs After Salah
Alongside the core supplications and tasbih, Quranic recitations are an important part of many Muslims' routines after obligatory prayers. Ayatul Kursi and the three short surahs—Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, and An-Nas—are commonly included.
Reciting Ayatul Kursi After Salah
Ayatul Kursi is verse 255 of Surah Al-Baqarah. It describes Allah's authority, knowledge, and power.
Why recite Ayatul Kursi after Salah?
- Affirm Allah's greatness: The verse emphasizes His absolute sovereignty and complete knowledge.
- Follow an established practice: A narration from Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) describes the virtue of reciting Ayatul Kursi at the end of every obligatory prayer.
- Include Quranic recitation in your routine: Reading the verse provides an opportunity to reflect on its meaning after prayer.
How many times should you recite it?
Recite Ayatul Kursi once after each obligatory prayer as part of your regular adhkar.
Reciting Surah Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, and An-Nas
These three short surahs are commonly recited after obligatory prayers. Each has a distinct meaning and purpose.
- Surah Al-Ikhlas: Affirms Allah's oneness and uniqueness.
- Surah Al-Falaq: Seeks Allah's protection from evil and harm.
- Surah An-Nas: Seeks refuge in Allah from harmful whispers.
How Many Times Should You Recite These Surahs?
A commonly reported practice is:
- After Fajr and Maghrib: Recite each of the three surahs three times.
- After the other obligatory prayers: Recite each surah once.
How to Add These Recitations to Your Routine
If you are building a consistent routine for Dhikr after Salah, follow these steps:
- Complete the established supplications and tasbih.
- Recite Ayatul Kursi once.
- Recite Surah Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, and An-Nas according to the recommended counts.
- Reflect on the meanings of the verses as you become more familiar with them.
Starting with a clear sequence makes these Quranic recitations easier to remember and incorporate into your daily worship.
A Simple Beginner Sequence for Dhikr After Salah
If you are new to post-prayer remembrance, following the same order can make the practice easier to maintain. Begin with the following sequence after an obligatory prayer.
Step 1: Seek Forgiveness
Say Astaghfirullah three times, then recite Allahumma anta as-salam wa minka as-salam, tabarakta ya dhal-jalali wal-ikram.
Step 2: Recite the Core Supplications
Say La ilaha illa Allah wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa huwa ala kulli shay'in qadir, followed by Allahumma la mani'a lima a'tayta, wa la mu'tiya lima mana'ta, wa la yanfa'u dhal-jaddi minka al-jadd.
Step 3: Complete Your Tasbih
Say SubhanAllah 33 times, Alhamdulillah 33 times, and Allahu Akbar 33 times. Then say the declaration of tawhid once to complete the 100-count sequence.
Step 4: Add Quranic Recitations
Read Ayatul Kursi once and recite Surah Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, and An-Nas as part of your post-prayer routine.
Read also about: Subhanallah Meaning
How to Build Consistency With Post-Prayer Duas
The easiest way to maintain Dhikr after Salah is to make it part of your regular prayer routine rather than treating it as a separate task.
- Learn the meanings: Understanding what you say helps you remain attentive instead of repeating words mechanically.
- Memorize one section at a time: Begin with the three requests for forgiveness and the supplication of peace, then learn the remaining phrases.
- Use a counting aid: Your fingers or prayer beads can help you keep track of the prescribed repetitions.
- Follow a familiar sequence: Reciting the same core adhkar in order reduces the effort required to remember what comes next.
- Add Quranic recitations gradually: Learn Ayatul Kursi and the three short surahs once you are comfortable with the basic supplications.
- Prioritize regularity: A manageable routine that you follow consistently is more practical than a lengthy list that becomes difficult to maintain.
FAQ
What dhikr is said after Salah?
Common adhkar after Salah include saying Astaghfirullah three times, reciting Allahumma anta as-salam wa minka as-salam, glorifying Allah with SubhanAllah, praising Him with Alhamdulillah, magnifying Him with Allahu Akbar, and declaring His oneness with La ilaha illa Allah. Ayatul Kursi and short surahs are also commonly included in the post-prayer routine.
How many times do I say SubhanAllah?
In one established post-prayer sequence, say SubhanAllah 33 times, Alhamdulillah 33 times, and Allahu Akbar 33 times, then recite the declaration of tawhid once to complete 100. Another reported form uses SubhanAllah 33 times, Alhamdulillah 33 times, and Allahu Akbar 34 times. Both counts have a basis in the Sunnah.