Question
(#060)
What is the ruling on Dua after Salaah?
Answer
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته
حامدا و مصليا و مسلما
Muhtaram
We received your query regarding Dua after Salaah. Our response is as follows;
Firstly, one needs to understand that making Dua after Salaah is (Mustahab) preferable.
“حدثنا محمد بن يحيى الثقفي المروزي حدثنا حفص بن غياث عن بن جريج عن عبد الرحمن بن سابط عن أبي أمامة قال قيل لرسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أي الدعاء أسمع قال جوف الليل الآخر ودبر الصلوات المكتوبات قال هذا حديث حسن”
Abu Umaamah radiyallahu anhu asked Rasulullaah sallallahu alai wa sallam “O Rasool of Allaah which is the most accepted Dua?” Rasulullaah y replied: “that Dua which is made in the last portion of the night and after the Fardh Salaah” {Tirmidhi: pg. 187 vol. 2, Imaam Tirmidhi has regarded this Hadith to be Hasan (good)}
Similarly in the book “Amalul-Yauma-Wal-Laylah” there is one Hadith mentioned in which there is encouragement of lifting the hands and making Dua after every Salaah and there is hope of the Dua been accepted;
Hadhrat Anas radiyallahu anhu narrates from Rasulullaah Sallallahu alai wa Sallam that there is not a servant who raises his hands after every Salaah and he proclaims………except that it is a right upon Allaah that he does not let his hands fall in disgrace {pg. 61}
Abdul Aziz bin Abdur Rahman who is a narrator in the above mentioned narration is questionable; however the above hadith can be used in conjunction with the first hadith of Tirmidhi.
Even though in the above Ahadith Salaah is mentioned in its general form, however Fardh Salaah can also be included in it.
Hadhrat Ja’far As-Saadiq (Rahimahullaah) mentions: “The Dua after Fardh Salaah has superiority over the Dua after Nafl Salaah just as Fardh Salaah has superiority over Nafl Salaah” {Tuhfatul Ahwazi pg. 245 vol. 1}
Secondly, there are many authentic Ahadith recorded that Rasulullah y used to make various Duas after Salaah;
وعن ثوبان رضي الله عنه قال : كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم إذا انصرف من صلاته استغفر ثلاثا وقال : ” اللهم أنت السلام ومنك السلام تباركت يا ذا الجلال والإكرام ” . رواه مسلم
وعن المغيرة بن شعبة أن النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم : كان يقول في دبر كل صلاة مكتوبة : ” لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له له الملك وله الحمد وهو على كل شيء قدير اللهم لا مانع لما أعطيت ولا معطي لما منعت ولا ينفع ذا الجد منك الجد “
وعن سعد أن كان يعلم بنيه هؤلاء الكلمات ويقول : إن رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم كان يتعوذ بهن دبر الصلاة : ” اللهم إني أعوذ بك من الجبن وأعوذ بك من البخل وأعوذ بك من أرذل العمر وأعوذ بك من فتنة الدنيا وعذاب القبر ” . رواه البخاري
Thirdly, raising the hands for Dua has also been proven from Rasulullaah Sallallahu alai wa Sallam;
Abu Musa radiyallahu anhu mentions that Rasulullaah Sallallahu alai wa Sallam made dua and blew into the water therafter he made Wudhu and raised his hands and said: “O Allaah forgive Ubaid Abu Aamir”. {Bukhaari, pg. 619, chapter regarding the battle of Awtaas}
Ayesha (Radiallaahu Anha) narrates (in a lengthy Hadith) “…….Until Rasulullaah Sallallahu alai wa Sallam came to Baqee’ and stood for a long period of time then he y raised his hands thrice therafter he went away”. {Muslim, pg. 313 vol. 1, also see; Tuhfatul Ahwazi, pg. 246 vol. 1, Mustadrak of Haakim, pg. 535 vol. 1}
Fourthly, raising the hands is from amongst the etiquettes of Dua;
Salmaan radiyallahu anhu narrates that Rasulullaah Sallallahu alai wa Sallam said: “Indeed Allaah feels shy that he turns back a servant of his who has raised his hands towards Him”. {Mustadrak of Haakim pg. 535 vol. 1- Allaamah Dhahabi has authenticated this narration, Tirmidhi, pg. 196 vol. 2}
Ibn Abbaas radiyallahu anhu narrates that Rasulullaah Sallallahu alai wa Sallam said: “when you ask Allaah, ask with the inside of your palm do not ask with the back of your palm and pass your palms over your face (when you finish)”. {Mustadrak of Haakim pg. 536 vol. 1- a similar narration has been narrated from Abu Bakrah and its chain of narrators are authentic, Majma-uz-Zawaaid, pg. 176 vol. 10}
Abu Hurairah radiyallahu anhu narrates that Rasulullaah Sallallahu alai wa Sallam said: “O people! Allaah is pure and He accepts only that which is pure…..” therafter Rasulullaah y mentioned a man who was a traveler with disheveled hair, dusty, raising his hands up towards the sky saying…… {Muslim, pg. 326 vol. 1}
Fifthly, there is no prohibition narrated in the Ahadith regarding raising the hands for Dua after Fardh Salaah rather raising the hands after Fardh Salaah has been proven from Ahadith though it may be weak;
The Hadith of Anas radiyallahu anhu which has been mentioned in the beginning is a proof for this. The objections which have been raised on this Hadith and its answers have also been explained.
Abu Hurairah radiyallahu anhu narrates that Rasulullaah Sallallahu alai wa Sallam would raise his hands after he would make Salaam (i.e. terminate his Salaah) facing the Qiblah saying….. {Allaamah Ibn Katheer rahimahullaah has narrated this Hadith under verse 100 of Surah Nisa from Ibn Abi Haatim}
Muhammad bin Yahya Al-Aslami narrates that I saw Abdullaah bin Zubair radiyallahu anhu see a person raising his hands before he terminated his Salaah. When he finished his Salaah Abdullaah bin Zubair Z said to him: “Rasulullaah y did not raise his hands until he would terminate his Salaah” {Tabraani, pg. 129 vol. 13- Imaam Suyuti (Rahimahullah) has mentioned its chain of narrators to be authentic}
The first two Ahadith mentioned under this topic are weak however, in conjunction with each other they are regarded to be strong especially the Hadith of Abdullaah bin Zubair, it itself is authentic which is enough to deduce a ruling from.
With regards to making Dua in congregation, Hadhrat Mufti Mahmood Rahimahullaah says “it is not just permissible to make Dua in congregation but it is more likely to be accepted”. (Discourses of Mufti Mahmood P.17)
The encouragement and support of collective Dua is also mentioned in the books of jurisprudence like “Maraaqiyul-Falah” and “Durre-Mukhtaar”
Numerous Ahadith have also mentioned the significance of congregational Dua albeit Salaah has not been clearly mentioned in these narrations, however if the time of Duas becoming readily accepted is after Fardh Salaah then to make it in congregation has more of an effect in becoming accepted;
Salmaan radiyallahu anhu narrates the Rasulullaah Sallallahu alai wa Sallam said: “No nation lifts up their hands to Allaah asking Him of something except that it is appropriate for Allaah that He places in their hands that which they ask from Him”. {This Hadith is narrated in Tabraani and its narrators are all authentic – Majma-uz-Zawaaid pg. 172 vol. 10}
Hence, from the above Ahadith and narrations of the Fuqahaa one can understand that raising the hands for Dua after Fardh Salaah is preferable though not compulsory. One may make Dua in congregation or individually, both are permissible. However, it cannot be called an innovation.
And Allaah Ta’ala knows best
Musayyab Sahib
28th Muharram 1434
13th December 2012
Checked and approved by:
(Mufti) Muhammad Irshad Motara
