Kitab Al-Salaah (The book of Prayer)

Private
Supplications Recited Upon completing Prayers

           
In accordance with the teachings of the Prophet (peace be upon him),
there are quite a number of private supplications and words of
extolling Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) i.e. "Dhikr" which are highly
desirable and recommended for recitation at the end of each prayer.
These supplications and extollations (dhikr) are non-obligatory and
constitute separate forms of "IBADAH" (Worship), hence, reciting them
or failure to do so, does not affect the prayer.

           
However, a person who recites these supplications and extollations
would certainly achieve much additional rewards besides the reward
Allah grants for the Salaat, INSHAA ALLAH.

            We
shall now discuss some of these supplications and extollations:

1. Immediately upon completing the prayer it is recommended for
   the worshipper to invoke Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) and to ask for His
   forgiveness by saying: "ASTAGHFIRULLAAH " three times, which means:
   I seek Allah's forgiveness.
2. Immediately thereafter, the worshipper may recite the
   following supplication: "ALLAHUMMA ANTA SALAAM, WA MINKA SALAAM,
   TABARAKTA YAA DHAL JALALI WAL IKRAAAM " which means: "O Allah, You are
   the source of peace and from You comes peace, exalted You are, O Lord
   of Majesty and Honor."
3. It is also recommended for the worshipper to recite
   thereafter the following supplication: "LA ILAHA ILAL-LAHU WAHDAHU, LAA
   SHARIKA LAHU, LAHUL-MULKU, WALAHUL-HAMDU, WAHUWA ALAA KULI SHEY-IN
   QADIIR" which means: "There is no god but Allah, He is one, He has no
   partner, to Him belongs sovereignty and to Him belongs praise and has
   power over all things".
4. The person may thereafter say: "ALLAHUMMA LAA MANI'A LIMAA
   A'7'EYTA WALA MU'Y'IYA LIMA MA NAA TA WA LA YA NFA U DHA L JA DDI
   MINKALIAD" which means: "O Allah, none can withhold what You have
   granted, and none can grant what You have withheld, and nothing can be
   offered by the rich,- richness and fortune comes from You alone".
5. And says thereafter: "LAA HOWLA WALAA QUWATA ILLA BILLAAH"
   which means: "There is no might or power, except from Allah".
6. Also, the person may thereafter say: "LAA ILLAHA ILAL LAAHU
   WALA NA'ABUDU ILLA IYAHU, LAHU NIMA TU WALAHUL FADHLU, WALAHUL THANAA
   AL-HASSAN" which means: "There is no god but Allah (subhanahu wa
   ta'ala) and we worship none but Him, to Him belongs prosperity, and to
   Him belongs favors and to Him belongs all good praises".
7. The person may also say: "LAA ILAHA ILLAL LAAHU MUKHLISINA
   LAHU DIINA WALAO KARIHAAL KAFIRUUN" which means: " There is no god but
   Allah, (and we) offer Him sincere devotion even though the unbelievers
   may detest it".
8. Also, say: "ALLAHUMMA A'INNI 'ALA DHIKRIKA, WA SHUKRIKA, WA
   HUSNA IBA DATIK" which means: "O Allah, help me in remembering You,
   thanking You and conducting my worship to You in a perfect way".
9. The person also says:
   
   1. SUBHANA -ALLAH - Glory be to ALLAH - (33 times).
   2. AL HAMDU-LILLAH- Praise be to Allah - (33 times)
   3. ALLAHU AKBAR - Allah is great (33 times).

   Then, at the end of the above three recitations, the worshipper recites
   the following supplication: "LAA ILLAHA ILAL LAAHU WAHDAHU LAA SHARIKA
   LAHU, LAHUL MUL-KU, WALA-HUL HAMDU, WAHUWA ALAA KULI SHEY'INN GADIIR"
   which means, "There is no god but Allah alone, He has no partners, to
   Him belongs dominion and to Him belongs praises, and He has power over
   all things". By this supplication, the worshipper makes up a total of
   100 readings. In this regard, it was reported in an authentic prophetic
   saying that whoever comes up with this 100 phrases at the end of every
   obligatory prayer: “Allah will forgive him, even if his sins were
   as abundant as the foam of the sea” (Reported by Imam Muslim).

10. It is also recommended for the person to recite thereafter
    "AYAT AL KURSI" i.e: the verse of the Throne (Holy Qur'an 2:255) which
    has the following English meaning: “Allah! there is no god but
    He, the Living the Self-Subsisting, the Eternal. No slumber can seize
    Him nor sleep. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth.
    Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He permitteth? He
    knoweth what (appeareth to His creatures as) before or after or behind
    them. Nor shall they compass aught of His knowledge except as He
    willeth. His Throne do extend over the heavens and the earth, and He
    feeleth no fatigue in guarding and preserving them or He is the Most
    High, the Supreme (in glory)”. The importance of this verse was
    confirmed by the Prophet (peace be upon him) in an authentic saying
    that: “Whoever recites this verse at the end of every prayer,
    nothing will prevent him from entering Paradise” (Reported by
    Imam Bukhari).
11. It is also strongly recommended that the person recites the
    following three chapters of the Holy Qur'an after each prayer:
    1. Surah
       Al-lkhlaas (Purity of Faith)
       Qur'an, Chapter 112.
    2. Surah
       Al-Falaq (The Dawn) - Qur'an,
       Chapter 113.
    3. Surah
       An-Naas (Mankind) - Qur'an,
       Chapter 114.

    Note: It is preferred that each of these three chapters be recited
    three times at the end of Fajr (Dawn) and Maghrib (Sunset) prayers;
    while, each chapter may be recited only once at the end of the other
    obligatory prayers namely, Dhuhr (Noon), Asr (Afternoon) and Isha
    (Evening) prayers.