Saturday 28 January 2017

Is Du'aa after Obligatory and Voluntary Prayers an Innovation?


Questioner: Is it an innovation to make supplication after obligatory prayers or disliked?

Shaykh al-‘Uthaymeen: Making supplication after the obligatory prayers is an innovation because the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) did not do it and everyone who worships Allaah with something the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) did not enjoin, and it is established that it is from his Sharee’ah, such would be considered an act of innovation based of the statement of the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam): “Every newly invented matter is an innovation.”

The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) guided [his Ummah] to the time of making supplication in Salaah. He said: ‘As regards prostration, exert yourselves in supplication in it, for it is most likely that you will be answered.” The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) also said to Ibn Mas’ood (may Allaah be pleased with him) when he was teaching him the tashahhud: “Then he should select whichever supplication he wishes.” That is, before terminating the prayer. Just as the texts of the Sharee’ah indicate that supplication in Salaah should be before salaam, sound contemplation also points to that. This is because as long as a person is in Salaah, he is communicating with his Lord and he is in front of Him. So why should he delay the supplication till after he terminates the Salaah and cuts the link between him and his Lord in his prayer? This is contrary to sound contemplation.

On the basis of this, we say: it is recommended to remember Allaah after completing the Salaah and make supplication before salaam based on the saying of Allaah: And when you have completed the prayer, remember Allaah standing, sitting, or [lying] on your sides” Soorah an-Nisaa:103. As regards making supplication after voluntary prayer, it is also contrary to the Sunnah because it has not been reported from the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) that he used to make supplication after voluntary prayer. So if you love to make supplication, call upon Allaah the exalted before you complete your Salaah as we mentioned earlier regarding the obligatory prayers.

Source: Fataawa Noor ala ad-Darb. See also, Fataawaa Ibn Uthaymeen (15/216)

2 comments:

  1. Assalaamu alaykum warrahmatulLahi wabarakatuH Ya-Sheikh. I need further clarification on the above please. For instance, I have the opportunity to do the 4 units of sunnah before salatul Zuhr between the adhan and iqamah. There was still a few minutes before iqamah will be pronounced and I use the time to lift my hands in supplication to Allah taking into cognizance the hadith that implies that "supplications between adhan and iqamah are not rejected. Will I be considered to be doing bidi'a?

    Wassalaamu alaykum,
    Muhammad Salihu.

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    1. wa alaykum salam warahmatullah wabarakatuh. No, it is not an innovation. The Shaykh did explain this issue elsewhere in his fatwa.

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