Prayer after salat is a sunnah practice that holds a special place in Islam. After performing the five daily prayers, Muslims are encouraged to increase their remembrance of Allah and prayers as a way to perfect their worship. The basis for this practice can be found in various authentic hadiths. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) never left immediately after performing the fardhu prayers. By practicing prayer after the obligatory prayer, friends can strengthen their relationship with Allah and at the same time receive abundant blessings in life.
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The special of prayer after prayer
The special nature of prayer after prayer is that it is one of the most effective moments to pray. Therefore, it is a pity if you miss this moment of prayer. If we make it a habit to practice this sunnah, it can strengthen our faith and calm our souls. It can also be a path to happiness in this world and the hereafter. As stated in the sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in the hadith from Tsauban about the context of prayer and istigfar after the salam:
“The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, when he finished his prayer (after the salam), he would seek forgiveness three times and say: ‘O Allah, You are As-Salam, and from You comes peace. Blessed are You, O Possessor of Majesty and Honor.’” This hadith is recorded in Sahih Muslim, no. 591.
And from this hadith, it is narrated by Imam Bukhari, no. 870 in Sahih Bukhari, “That the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, when he finished giving the salam, the women immediately stood up to leave. Meanwhile, he remained in his place for a moment before he stood up to leave.”
These two authentic hadiths about the practices of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, regarding supplication after the obligatory prayer provide a special lesson for Muslims. In Sahih Muslim no. 591, it is mentioned that the Prophet, peace be upon him, always asked for forgiveness three times and then recited a supplication praising Allah, the Almighty. This shows that supplication after prayer is the completion of worship, so that the heart remains humble and dependent on Him.
Meanwhile, in Sahih Bukhari no. 870, it is explained that after the salam, the Prophet (pbuh) did not immediately leave. The Prophet (pbuh) remained in place for a moment, allowing time for remembrance. At the same time, he maintained social etiquette by allowing the female congregation to leave first. From these two hadiths, it can be understood that prayer after prayer teaches discipline and reflects noble social manners. Thus, it becomes a very valuable habit for a Muslim. Therefore, some scholars consider praying and reciting dhikr after prayer to be sunnah.
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Dhikr and Prayer After Prayer
Some of the dhikr and prayers that you can practice after prayer are as follows:
The Prophet Muhammad taught a short dhikr to recite after the salam:
- Istighfar 3 times
- اَسْتَغْفِرُ اللّٰهَ
- Astaghfirullāh (I seek forgiveness from Allah).
- Dhikr of Tawhid, Tahmid, Takbir
- Subhānallāh (33 times) – سُبْحَانَ اللّٰهِ
- Alhamdulillāh (33 times) – اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ
- Allāhu Akbar (34 times) – اَللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ
“Whoever recites the following dhikr after the obligatory prayers: ”Tasbih 33 times, Tahmid 33 times, Takbir 33 times, and to complete one hundred, read: ‘Laa ilaaha illallaahu wahdahu laa syariikalahu, lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu wa huwa ‘alaa kulli syai’in qadiir‘” will have their sins forgiven as many as the foam in the ocean” (Hadith narrated by Muslim no. 597).
After the dhikr, we are encouraged to recite a prayer after prayer, asking for goodness in this world and the hereafter, for example:
اللَّهُمَّ أَعِنِّي عَلَى ذِكْرِكَ وَشُكْرِكَ وَحُسْنِ عِبَادَتِكَ
Allāhumma a‘inni ‘alā dzikrika wa syukrika wa husni ‘ibādatik
Meaning: O Allah, help me to always remember You, be grateful to You, and improve my worship of You (HR. Abu Dawud no. 1522).
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Another prayer that is also taught:
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
Rabbana ātinā fid-dunyā ḥasanah wa fil-ākhirati ḥasanah wa qinā ‘adhāban-nār
Meaning: O our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire (QS. Al-Baqarah verse 201).
You can use the prayer after prayer to be consistent in praying and remembering Allah after prayer. By praying, a servant affirms his servitude to Allah SWT. All matters of life cannot proceed without His help. We also need to remember Allah’s promise in the Quran:
وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِي سَيَدْخُلُونَ جَهَنَّمَ دَاخِرِينَ
Meaning:
“And your Lord said: Call upon Me, I will respond to you. Indeed, those who are too proud to worship Me will enter Hell in a state of humiliation” (QS. Ghafir [40]: 60).
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Achieve Inner Peace through Prayer and Charity
Prayer after salat is also a special sunnah in strengthening inner peace. Salat is not just a ritual obligation, but a way to always be close to the Creator. Another wisdom is the birth of gratitude, self-awareness, and humility in living daily life. A Muslim’s discipline in maintaining prayer after salat is a reflection of sincerity in worship.
Therefore, reciting prayers after salat is a sunnah practice that promises great rewards. The Prophet Muhammad exemplified zikr and prayer after salam as a form of additional worship that increases the balance of good deeds in the hereafter. Remembrance such as tasbih, tahmid, takbir, and prayers asking for goodness in this world and the hereafter. All of them have multiple rewards as provisions for our deeds.
By consistently reciting remembrance and prayers after every fardhu prayer, a Muslim trains himself to be obedient, patient, and always remember Allah SWT. This discipline also educates the heart not to be negligent in worldly affairs. Furthermore, this good habit should be accompanied by acts of charity and zakat. Through both, a servant purifies their heart, their wealth, and helps others. It also expands the blessings of life that Allah bestows.
