Dhikr After Salah: 7 Authentic Adhkar and Duas

Dhikr After Salah: Authentic Adhkar and Duas

Dhikr after salah means remembering Allah after prayer. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught Muslims words to say after completing the five obligatory prayers. These include asking Allah for forgiveness, praising Him, and declaring His oneness.

Learning dhikr after salah helps Muslims build a daily habit of remembering Allah. You can learn the Arabic words, read their transliteration, and understand their English meanings. This guide explains the reported adhkar, their recitation counts, and the hadith references behind them.

What Is Dhikr After Salah?

Dhikr means the remembrance of Allah. Muslims remember Allah by praising Him, asking for forgiveness, making dua, and reciting the Quran.

After finishing an obligatory prayer, Muslims can recite the words reported from the Prophet ﷺ. These words include seeking forgiveness and saying that Allah is the source of peace.

Thawban, a companion of the Prophet, reported that the Prophet ﷺ would ask Allah for forgiveness three times after finishing salah. He would then say Allahumma Antas-Salam wa minkas-salam. This narration is recorded in Sahih Muslim 591.

Dhikr after salah is separate from the obligatory parts of the prayer. The reported words and recitation counts should be learned from reliable Islamic sources.

1. Say Astaghfirullah Three Times

One of the first acts of remembrance after salah is asking Allah for forgiveness. The word Astaghfirullah expresses this request.

Arabic:

أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ

Transliteration: Astaghfirullah.

English meaning: I ask Allah for forgiveness.

Say this phrase three times after completing the obligatory prayer. This practice is mentioned in Sahih Muslim 591.

The words are short and easy to learn. Their meaning reminds a Muslim to turn to Allah for forgiveness and help.

2. Recite Allahumma Antas-Salam

After seeking forgiveness, recite the following words.

Arabic:

اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ السَّلَامُ وَمِنْكَ السَّلَامُ تَبَارَكْتَ يَا ذَا الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ

Transliteration:

Allahumma Antas-Salamu wa minkas-salamu, tabarakta ya Dhal-Jalali wal-Ikram.

English meaning:

O Allah, You are Peace, and peace comes from You. Blessed are You, O Owner of Majesty and Honor.

This supplication is reported in Sahih Muslim 591. It teaches Muslims to recognize Allah’s greatness and turn to Him for peace.

Read the words slowly as you learn them. Understanding the meaning can help you remember the supplication and recite it with attention.

3. Tasbih After Salah: 33 Times

Another well-known form of dhikr after salah includes three phrases of praise. In one reported form, each phrase is recited 33 times. A final declaration of Allah’s oneness completes the count to 100.

SubhanAllah — 33 Times

Arabic: سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ

Transliteration: SubhanAllah.

Meaning: Glory be to Allah.

This phrase declares that Allah is free from every imperfection.

Alhamdulillah — 33 Times

Arabic: الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ

Transliteration: Alhamdulillah.

Meaning: All praise belongs to Allah.

These words express praise and gratitude to Allah.

Allahu Akbar — 33 Times

Arabic: اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ

Transliteration: Allahu Akbar.

Meaning: Allah is the Greatest.

This phrase declares Allah’s greatness.

Complete the Count to 100

After reciting each of the three phrases 33 times, say the following once.

Arabic:

لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

Transliteration:

La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu, wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadir.

English meaning:

There is no god worthy of worship except Allah alone. He has no partner. His is the kingdom, and all praise belongs to Him. He has power over all things.

This form is reported in Sahih Muslim 597a. The narration also mentions a reward for the person who recites these words.

Another Reported Tasbih Count

Sahih Muslim 596b–c records another form of tasbih after prayer:

• SubhanAllah: 33 times

• Alhamdulillah: 33 times

• Allahu Akbar: 34 times

Both forms are reported in hadith. You can learn either one rather than combining their counts into a new routine.

4. Recite Ayatul Kursi After Salah

Ayatul Kursi is verse 255 of Surah Al-Baqarah. It describes Allah’s oneness, knowledge, and power. Many Muslims learn this verse as part of their Quran recitation.

Arabic opening:

اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ

Transliteration:

Allahu la ilaha illa Huwal-Hayyul-Qayyum.

Meaning:

Allah—there is no god worthy of worship except Him, the Ever-Living, the One who sustains all.

Read the complete verse with its translation on Quran.com, Surah Al-Baqarah 2:255.

A narration in Bulugh al-Maram 220 reports the virtue of reciting Ayatul Kursi after every obligatory prayer. The report is attributed to An-Nasa’i, and Ibn Hibban graded it authentic. Scholars have discussed the report’s chains, so it is best to refer to the hadith source when explaining its status.

If you are learning Ayatul Kursi, start with the correct pronunciation and meaning. You can then work on memorizing the full verse in smaller parts.

5. Recite the Three Short Surahs

The three short surahs often learned for daily recitation are Surah Al-Ikhlas, Surah Al-Falaq, and Surah An-Naas. Each has a distinct message.

Surah Al-Ikhlas

Surah Al-Ikhlas teaches that Allah is One and unique. Its verses affirm that Allah does not depend on anyone and has no equal.

Surah Al-Falaq

Surah Al-Falaq is a supplication for protection. It teaches Muslims to seek Allah’s protection from harm.

Surah An-Naas

Surah An-Naas teaches Muslims to seek refuge in Allah from evil whispers and harm.

You can read these surahs in the Quran and learn their meanings. Before stating a specific number of recitations after a particular prayer, check the relevant hadith. This helps keep your article accurate and avoids presenting an unsupported count as a Sunnah practice.

6. What Is the Difference Between Dhikr and Dua?

Dhikr and dua are related, but they are not the same.

Dhikr means remembering Allah. Examples include saying SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, and Allahu Akbar. These phrases praise Allah and remind Muslims of His greatness.

Dua means calling upon Allah and asking Him for something. A Muslim may ask for forgiveness, guidance, patience, health, or help with a difficulty.

Some supplications include both remembrance and requests. For example, Allahumma Antas-Salam praises Allah and recognizes Him as the source of peace.

After salah, Muslims can recite the reported adhkar and also make personal dua. Keep the distinction clear when learning the words and their purposes.

7. Benefits and Importance of Dhikr After Salah

The purpose of dhikr is to remember Allah through words taught in Islamic sources. The reported adhkar also help Muslims learn important expressions of faith.

• Seeking forgiveness: Saying Astaghfirullah expresses a request for Allah’s forgiveness.

• Praising Allah: SubhanAllah declares Allah’s perfection, while Alhamdulillah expresses praise.

• Recognizing Allah’s greatness: Allahu Akbar means that Allah is the Greatest.

• Affirming Allah’s oneness: La ilaha illallah declares that none deserves worship except Allah.

• Learning beloved words: Sahih Muslim 2137a reports that SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illallah, and Allahu Akbar are among the most beloved words to Allah.

These points are based on the meanings of the phrases and the cited reports. Avoid attaching guaranteed worldly results to a particular count unless a reliable source supports that claim.

8. Common Mistakes to Avoid

When learning dhikr after salah, keep these points in mind.

Do not mix different counts. The 33/33/33 form and the 33/33/34 form are separate reported practices. Learn each one correctly.

Do not assume every routine is obligatory. The adhkar discussed here should not all be described as compulsory parts of the prayer itself.

Check the source for specific claims. If someone gives a special count or promises a guaranteed result, look for reliable evidence before repeating the claim.

Learn the meaning as well as the pronunciation. Understanding the words makes it easier to learn them and remember what you are saying.

Avoid rushing through unfamiliar Arabic. Learn a short phrase at a time, listen to reliable recitation, and practise until you can say it correctly.

9. How to Make Dhikr After Salah a Daily Habit

You do not need to learn every phrase in one day. Start with a small routine and build your knowledge gradually.

1. After the obligatory prayer, say Astaghfirullah three times.

2. Recite Allahumma Antas-Salamu wa minkas-salam.

3. Learn one of the reported tasbih forms.

4. Read Ayatul Kursi and study its meaning.

5. Learn the three short surahs if you do not already know them.

6. Make personal dua when you wish to ask Allah for help or guidance.

Keep a written guide nearby while learning. You can also practise one phrase at a time and review its meaning each day.

Accuracy matters more than trying to memorize everything at once. Use reliable translations and hadith references whenever you are unsure about a phrase or its count.

Conclusion

Dhikr after salah gives Muslims a way to remember Allah after completing their obligatory prayers. Begin with the reported words of forgiveness and peace. Then learn a tasbih form, recite Quranic verses such as Ayatul Kursi, and study the meanings of the words you say.

Use reliable sources to check specific counts and claims. Learn at a steady pace, focus on correct pronunciation, and try to understand each phrase. This approach helps you make dhikr a regular and meaningful part of your worship.