SUPPLICATIONS AFTER PRAYER
Supplicating after obligatory prayer is a widespread and permissible practice in Islamic tradition. The most well-known practice at this time is the tasbih — reciting "Subhanallah" 33 times, "Alhamdulillah" 33 times, and "Allahu Akbar" 33 times. Some reports also describe reciting Ayat al-Kursi after each obligatory prayer as virtuous. The information below summarizes the commonly practiced tasbih and remembrances mentioned in these reports; it does not present a binding rule that these must be done in exactly this order after every prayer.
Duas and Verses
Supplicating After Prayer
Supplicating immediately after an obligatory prayer, whether with raised hands or not, faces no religious restriction; this time is considered one of the most virtuous moments of the day for supplication.
Can be recalled right after each obligatory prayer, while the calm of prostration still lingers.
The Tasbih: 33 Subhanallah, 33 Alhamdulillah, 33 Allahu Akbar
سُبْحَانَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Sübhânallah (33) — Elhamdülillah (33) — Allahüekber (33)
Glory be to God (33 times) — Praise be to God (33 times) — God is greatest (33 times). A report in Sahih Muslim describes reciting this tasbih regularly after obligatory prayer as virtuous.
Can be done right after prayer, counted on prayer beads or fingers — track it with the Digital Tasbih tool on our site.
Reciting Ayat al-Kursi After Prayer
ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْحَىُّ ٱلْقَيُّومُ
Allâhü lâ ilâhe illâ hüve'l-hayyü'l-kayyûm...
God — there is no god except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of all existence... Some reports describe reciting it after every obligatory prayer as virtuous.
Can be recited after the tasbih, as part of the remembrance following prayer.
Closing Supplication
رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةًۭ وَفِى ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ حَسَنَةًۭ وَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ
Rabbenâ âtinâ fi'd-dünyâ haseneten ve fi'l-âhireti haseneten ve kınâ azâbe'n-nâr.
Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.
Can be read after the tasbih and remembrance, to close out one's personal supplication.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many times should the tasbih be recited?
The most commonly reported count is 33 each of Subhanallah, Alhamdulillah, and Allahu Akbar, followed by a completing statement of God's greatness or oneness. This count is a common practice, not a binding requirement.
Should Ayat al-Kursi be recited after every prayer?
Some reports describe this as virtuous, but it is not obligatory. A person may add or skip this reading according to their own pace.
Sources
- Sahih Muslim
- Tanzil Project — Uthmani Mushaf
- QuranEnc — English Translation