Which is preferable after obligatory Salah: Nafilah or Adhkar?
Question:
“Your Eminence, which is better after praying obligatory Salahs (Prayers); to offer Nafilah (supererogatory Prayer) or Adhkar (invocations and Remembrances said at certain times on a regular basis)?”
Answer:
“Muslims in all affairs and conducts are governed by the Shari`ah (Islamic law) and they should seek to apply the Sunnah (whatever is reported from the Prophet) with regard to all religious and worldly matters. Allah (Exalted be He) says:
{And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) gives you, take it; and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it).} [Surah al-Hashr 59:7]
By referring to the teachings of the Prophet (peace be upon him) regarding what should be done after Taslim (salutation of peace ending the Prayer), we find that he (peace be upon him) would engage in the Adhkar that should be said after Salah, and would not engage in anything else, such as reciting the Ever-Glorious Qur'an or offering the Nafilah. This is supported by many Hadiths, including the Hadith reported on the authority of Thawban (may Allah be pleased with him): “Whenever the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) finished his Salah, he would perform Istighfar (seeking forgiveness from Allah) three times and say: 'Allahumma anta al-salam wa minka al-salam, tabarakta ya dhal-jalal wal-ikram. (O Allah, You are Al-Salam (the One Who is free from all defects and deficiencies) and from You is all peace; Blessed are You, Possessor of Glory and Honor).'”[1] (Related by Muslim) In another narration: "O Possessor of Glory and Honor."
It was reported in the Two Sahih (authentic) Books of Hadith (i.e. Al-Bukhari and Muslim) on the authority of Al-Mughirah ibn Shu`bah (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said in the letter which he sent to Mu`awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to say at the end of every obligatory Salah: “La ilaha illa Allah wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa huwa `ala kulli shai'in qadir. Allahumma la mani`a lima `atait wa-la mu`ti lima man`t, wa-la yanfa`u dhal-gaddu minkal-gadd (There is no god but Allah, Alone, with no partner or associate; to Him belongs Sovereignty and Praise and He has power over all things. O Allah, none can prevent what You have willed to grant, and none can grant what You have willed to prevent, and riches cannot avail a wealthy person against You).”[2]
It was reported in Sahih Muslim (may Allah be merciful to him) that Ibn Al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with them both) used to say after every Salah after performing Taslim: “La ilaha illa Allah wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa huwa `ala kulli shai'in qadir, la hawla wa-la quwwata illa billah, la ilaha illa Allah wa-la na`budu illa iyyah, lahun-ni`matu wa-lahul-fadl, wa-lahu ath-thanaa’u al-hasan, la ilaha illa Allah mukhlisina, lahud-dina wa-law karihal-kafirun (There is no god but Allah, Alone, with no partner or associate; to Him belongs Sovereignty and Praise and He has power over all things. There is neither might nor power except with Allah. We worship none but Him. From Him (Alone) come all blessings and favours, and all good praise is due to Him. There is no god but Allah; we devote our worship purely and sincerely to Him (Alone), however much the disbelievers may detest this).” Ibn Al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to recite them out loud at the end of every Salah.”[3]
It was also reported in the Two Sahih (authentic) Books of Hadith (i.e. Al-Bukhari and Muslim) on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him): “Some poor people went to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and said, 'The wealthy people have taken the highest ranks (in Paradise) and everlasting bliss. They pray as we pray, and they fast as we fast, but they have surplus wealth with which they perform Hajj, `Umarh, Jihad (striving in the Cause of Allah), and give Sadaqah (voluntary charity).' He (peace be upon him) said, 'Shall I tell you something that, if you act upon, you will catch up with those who preceded you, and none after you shall overtake you, and you will be the best of those you are among, except those who do as you do? Say, 'Subhan Allah (Glory be to Allah),' 'Alhamdu lillah (All praise is due to Allah),' and 'Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest)' thirty-three times after every Salah.”[4] (This is the wording of Al-Bukhari)
Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that they would know that the Prophet (peace be upon him) had finished congregational Salah by hearing Takbir (saying: "Allahu Akbar [Allah is the Greatest]"), meaning that the worshippers used to recite Adhkar loudly after the end of Salah, so anyone at the end of the row would know that Salah was finished. And Allah knows best.
After finishing the Adhkar, Muslims should recite Ayat-ul-Kursy (the Qur’anic Verse of Allah’s Chair, Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:255), and Al-Mu`awwidhat Al-Thalath (Surahs Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, and Al-Nas). Then they should offer the Sunnah Ba`diyyah (supererogatory Prayer performed after an obligatory Prayer) of Zhuhr (Noon), `Asr (Afternoon) and Maghrib (Sunset) Prayers. This is what the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to do. It is our duty to follow the example of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in his words and actions:
{Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم to mankind): 'If you (really) love Allâh then follow me (i.e. accept Islâmic Monotheism, follow the Qur’ân and the Sunnah), Allâh will love you.'} [Surah Aal Imraan 3:31]
Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez Aal ash-Shaykh
Source: www.alifta.net - Fatwas by His Eminence Shaykh `Abdul-`Aziz ibn `Abdullah Al Al-Shaykh
[1] Muslim, Sahih, Book on Masjids and places for Salah, no. 591; Al-Tirmidhy, Sunan, Book on Salah, no. 300; Al-Nasa'y, Sunan, Book on Sujud-ul-Sahw, no. 1337; Abu Dawud, Sunan, Book on Salah, no. 1512; Ibn Majah, Sunan, Book on Performing Prayer and its Sunan, no. 928.
[2] Al-Bukhari, Sahih, Book on Adhan, no. 844; Muslim, Sahih, Book on Masjids and places for Salah, no. 593; Al-Nasa'y, Sunan, Book on Sujud-ul-Sahw, no. 1341; Abu Dawud, Sunan, Book on Salah, no. 1505; Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad, vol. 4, p. 245; and Al-Darimy, Sunan, Book on Salah, no. 1349.
[3] Muslim, Sahih, Book on Masjids and places for Salah, no. 594; Al-Nasa'y, Sunan, Book on Sujud-ul-Sahw, no. 1340; Abu Dawud, Sunan, Book on Salah, no. 1506; and Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad, vol. 4, p. 4.
[4] Al-Bukhari, Sahih, Book on Adhan, no. 843; Muslim, Sahih, Book on Masjids and places for Salah, no. 595; Abu Dawud, Sunan, Book on Salah, no. 1504; Ibn Majah, Sunan, Book on performing Prayer and its Sunan, no. 927; Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad, vol. 2, p. 238; Malik, Al-Muwatta', Book on call to Prayer, no. 488; and Al-Darimy, Sunan, Book on Salah, no. 1353.
“Your Eminence, which is better after praying obligatory Salahs (Prayers); to offer Nafilah (supererogatory Prayer) or Adhkar (invocations and Remembrances said at certain times on a regular basis)?”
Answer:
“Muslims in all affairs and conducts are governed by the Shari`ah (Islamic law) and they should seek to apply the Sunnah (whatever is reported from the Prophet) with regard to all religious and worldly matters. Allah (Exalted be He) says:
{And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) gives you, take it; and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it).} [Surah al-Hashr 59:7]
By referring to the teachings of the Prophet (peace be upon him) regarding what should be done after Taslim (salutation of peace ending the Prayer), we find that he (peace be upon him) would engage in the Adhkar that should be said after Salah, and would not engage in anything else, such as reciting the Ever-Glorious Qur'an or offering the Nafilah. This is supported by many Hadiths, including the Hadith reported on the authority of Thawban (may Allah be pleased with him): “Whenever the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) finished his Salah, he would perform Istighfar (seeking forgiveness from Allah) three times and say: 'Allahumma anta al-salam wa minka al-salam, tabarakta ya dhal-jalal wal-ikram. (O Allah, You are Al-Salam (the One Who is free from all defects and deficiencies) and from You is all peace; Blessed are You, Possessor of Glory and Honor).'”[1] (Related by Muslim) In another narration: "O Possessor of Glory and Honor."
It was reported in the Two Sahih (authentic) Books of Hadith (i.e. Al-Bukhari and Muslim) on the authority of Al-Mughirah ibn Shu`bah (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said in the letter which he sent to Mu`awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to say at the end of every obligatory Salah: “La ilaha illa Allah wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa huwa `ala kulli shai'in qadir. Allahumma la mani`a lima `atait wa-la mu`ti lima man`t, wa-la yanfa`u dhal-gaddu minkal-gadd (There is no god but Allah, Alone, with no partner or associate; to Him belongs Sovereignty and Praise and He has power over all things. O Allah, none can prevent what You have willed to grant, and none can grant what You have willed to prevent, and riches cannot avail a wealthy person against You).”[2]
It was reported in Sahih Muslim (may Allah be merciful to him) that Ibn Al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with them both) used to say after every Salah after performing Taslim: “La ilaha illa Allah wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa huwa `ala kulli shai'in qadir, la hawla wa-la quwwata illa billah, la ilaha illa Allah wa-la na`budu illa iyyah, lahun-ni`matu wa-lahul-fadl, wa-lahu ath-thanaa’u al-hasan, la ilaha illa Allah mukhlisina, lahud-dina wa-law karihal-kafirun (There is no god but Allah, Alone, with no partner or associate; to Him belongs Sovereignty and Praise and He has power over all things. There is neither might nor power except with Allah. We worship none but Him. From Him (Alone) come all blessings and favours, and all good praise is due to Him. There is no god but Allah; we devote our worship purely and sincerely to Him (Alone), however much the disbelievers may detest this).” Ibn Al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to recite them out loud at the end of every Salah.”[3]
It was also reported in the Two Sahih (authentic) Books of Hadith (i.e. Al-Bukhari and Muslim) on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him): “Some poor people went to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and said, 'The wealthy people have taken the highest ranks (in Paradise) and everlasting bliss. They pray as we pray, and they fast as we fast, but they have surplus wealth with which they perform Hajj, `Umarh, Jihad (striving in the Cause of Allah), and give Sadaqah (voluntary charity).' He (peace be upon him) said, 'Shall I tell you something that, if you act upon, you will catch up with those who preceded you, and none after you shall overtake you, and you will be the best of those you are among, except those who do as you do? Say, 'Subhan Allah (Glory be to Allah),' 'Alhamdu lillah (All praise is due to Allah),' and 'Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest)' thirty-three times after every Salah.”[4] (This is the wording of Al-Bukhari)
Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that they would know that the Prophet (peace be upon him) had finished congregational Salah by hearing Takbir (saying: "Allahu Akbar [Allah is the Greatest]"), meaning that the worshippers used to recite Adhkar loudly after the end of Salah, so anyone at the end of the row would know that Salah was finished. And Allah knows best.
After finishing the Adhkar, Muslims should recite Ayat-ul-Kursy (the Qur’anic Verse of Allah’s Chair, Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:255), and Al-Mu`awwidhat Al-Thalath (Surahs Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, and Al-Nas). Then they should offer the Sunnah Ba`diyyah (supererogatory Prayer performed after an obligatory Prayer) of Zhuhr (Noon), `Asr (Afternoon) and Maghrib (Sunset) Prayers. This is what the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to do. It is our duty to follow the example of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in his words and actions:
{Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم to mankind): 'If you (really) love Allâh then follow me (i.e. accept Islâmic Monotheism, follow the Qur’ân and the Sunnah), Allâh will love you.'} [Surah Aal Imraan 3:31]
Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez Aal ash-Shaykh
Source: www.alifta.net - Fatwas by His Eminence Shaykh `Abdul-`Aziz ibn `Abdullah Al Al-Shaykh
[1] Muslim, Sahih, Book on Masjids and places for Salah, no. 591; Al-Tirmidhy, Sunan, Book on Salah, no. 300; Al-Nasa'y, Sunan, Book on Sujud-ul-Sahw, no. 1337; Abu Dawud, Sunan, Book on Salah, no. 1512; Ibn Majah, Sunan, Book on Performing Prayer and its Sunan, no. 928.
[2] Al-Bukhari, Sahih, Book on Adhan, no. 844; Muslim, Sahih, Book on Masjids and places for Salah, no. 593; Al-Nasa'y, Sunan, Book on Sujud-ul-Sahw, no. 1341; Abu Dawud, Sunan, Book on Salah, no. 1505; Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad, vol. 4, p. 245; and Al-Darimy, Sunan, Book on Salah, no. 1349.
[3] Muslim, Sahih, Book on Masjids and places for Salah, no. 594; Al-Nasa'y, Sunan, Book on Sujud-ul-Sahw, no. 1340; Abu Dawud, Sunan, Book on Salah, no. 1506; and Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad, vol. 4, p. 4.
[4] Al-Bukhari, Sahih, Book on Adhan, no. 843; Muslim, Sahih, Book on Masjids and places for Salah, no. 595; Abu Dawud, Sunan, Book on Salah, no. 1504; Ibn Majah, Sunan, Book on performing Prayer and its Sunan, no. 927; Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad, vol. 2, p. 238; Malik, Al-Muwatta', Book on call to Prayer, no. 488; and Al-Darimy, Sunan, Book on Salah, no. 1353.