The Meaning of "After the Prayer"

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Question:
What is meant by "after the prayer" in the hadiths that encourage supplication or remembrance after every prayer? Is it the end of the prayer before the taslim, or after the taslim?

Answer:
The phrase "after the prayer" is used for the end of the prayer before the taslim, and it is also used for what immediately follows the taslim. Authentic hadiths have come regarding this, and most of them indicate that the meaning is the end of the prayer before the taslim, particularly regarding supplication. This is like the hadith of Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) when the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) taught him the tashahhud, then said:

Then he may choose any supplication which pleases him most and recite it.

ثم ليتخير من الدعاء أعجبه إليه فيدعو

Bulugh al-Maram 2:203

In another wording:

Then let him choose from the requests whatever he wishes.

ثم ليتخير بعد من المسألة ما شاء

It is agreed upon that it is authentic.
And among that is the hadith of Mu'adh, in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him:

Never leave the recitation of this supplication after every prayer: 'O Allah, help me to remember You, thank You, and worship You perfectly.'

لا تدعن دبر كل صلاة أن تقول: اللهم أعني على ذكرك وشكرك وحسن عبادتك

Bulugh al-Maram 2:219

It was narrated by Abu Dawud, al-Tirmidhi, and al-Nasa'i with a sound chain. And among that is what al-Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated from Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him) who said:

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to seek Allah's protection by invoking this supplication (Du'a) at the end of every Salat (prayer): "O Allah, I seek refuge in You from stinginess, I seek refuge in You from cowardice, I seek refuge in You from old age (and senility), I seek refuge in You from the temptation of the world and I seek refuge in You from the punishment in the grave."

كان النبي ﷺ يقول في دبر كل صلاة: اللهم إني أعوذ بك من البخل، وأعوذ بك من الجبن، وأعوذ بك من أن أرد إلى أرذل العمر، وأعوذ بك من فتنة الدنيا، ومن عذاب القبر

Bulugh al-Maram 2:215

As for the remembrances mentioned in this regard, authentic hadiths indicate that they are done after the prayer, following the taslim. Among them is saying when one performs the taslim:

O Allah, You are As-Salam, and from you is As-Salam. You are blessed, O One of Magnificence and Generosity.

أستغفر الله، أستغفر الله، أستغفر الله، اللهم أنت السلام ومنك السلام تباركت يا ذا الجلال والإكرام

Sunan Abi Dawud 1512Sahih (Al-Albani)

whether one is the imam, a follower, or praying alone. Then the imam turns to the followers and faces them, and the imam, the follower, and the one praying alone say after this remembrance and seeking forgiveness:

There is no god but Allah alone, with no partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He is over all things competent. There is no power and no strength except by Allah. There is no god but Allah, and we worship none but Him. His is the favor, His is the grace, and His is the good praise. There is no god but Allah, we are sincere to Him in religion, even if the disbelievers dislike it. O Allah, there is no one who can prevent what You have given, and there is no one who can give what You have withheld, and the wealth of the wealthy does not benefit him against You.

لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، له الملك وله الحمد وهو على كل شيء قدير، لا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله، لا إله إلا الله ولا نعبد إلا إياه، له النعمة وله الفضل وله الثناء الحسن. لا إله إلا الله مخلصين له الدين ولو كره الكافرون. اللهم لا مانع لما أعطيت ولا معطي لما منعت ولا ينفع ذا الجد منك الجد

Sahih Muslim 594a

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It is recommended that the Muslim man and woman say this remembrance after every one of the five prayers, then glorify Allah, praise Him, and magnify Him thirty-three times each, then say to complete the hundred:

There is no god but Allah, alone, without any partner. To Him belong the Kingdom and praise, and He has power over everything

لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، له الملك وله الحمد وهو على كل شيء قدير

Muwatta Malik 20:131

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All of this has been established by hadiths from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). It is recommended to read Ayat al-Kursi once quietly after that, and to read "Say, He is Allah, the One" and the two chapters of seeking refuge (al-Mu'awwidhatayn) quietly once after every prayer, except in Maghrib and Fajr, where it is recommended to repeat the reading of the three mentioned chapters three times. It is also recommended for the Muslim man and woman after the Maghrib and Fajr prayers to say:

None has the right to be worshipped by Allah, Alone, without partner, to Him belongs all that exists, and to Him belongs the praise, [He gives life and causes death,] and He has power over all things

لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، له الملك وله الحمد يحيي ويميت وهو على كل شيء قدير

Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3553Sahih (Darussalam)

, ten times, in addition to what was mentioned before reading Ayat al-Kursi and before reading the three chapters, in accordance with the authentic hadiths regarding this. And Allah is the guarantor of success.

Source binbaz.org.sa

The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.

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