Is It Sunnah to Recite Soorah al-Ikhlaas After Every Obligatory Prayer?

Shaykh ‘Abdullaah bin Saalih al-Fawzaan (may Allaah preserve him) stated:

“After the remembrance of Allaah, he [that is, the worshipper] should recite Aayatul-Kursi (Qur’aan 2: 255) based on the hadeeth of Aboo Umaamah (may Allaah be pleased with him) who narrated that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘Whoever recites Aayatul-Kursi after every obligatory prayer, nothing would prevent him from entering Paradise except death.’[1] [2]

Thereafter,  he should recite the two Soorahs of seeking refuge[3] based on what has been narrated from ‘Uqbah bin ‘Aamir (may Allaah be pleased with him) that he said, ‘The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) instructed me to recite the two Soorahs of seeking refuge after every prayer.”[4]

With regard to reciting Soorah al-Ikhlaas [after every obligatory prayer], there is no sound hadeeth concerning it. And Allaah knows best.

Source: Ahkaam Hudoor al-Masaajid, p. 178-179 by Shaykh ‘Abdullaah bin Saalih al-Fawzaan (may Allaah preserve him)

Translator’s Note: As regards reciting the last three Soorahs after Fajr and Maghrib prayers, there is no evidence to support that. However, there are sound evidences that prove that those Soorahs should be recited thrice in the morning and in the evening. The time for saying the evening adhkaar is between ‘Asr and Maghrib while the morning adhkaar is between dawn and sunrise. See al-Waabil as-Sayyib p. 100-101 by Ibn Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him)

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[1] An authentic hadeeth recorded by an-Nasaa’ee and others

[2] Note: Muhammad bin Ibraaheem added Soorah al-Ikhlaas in his narration. Meaning the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) encouraged us to read Aayatul-Kursi and Soorah al-Ikhlaas after every obligatory prayer. See al-Wajeez, p. 125 by Dr Abdul-‘Azeem bin Badawi. However, other scholars have rejected the addition. Allaah knows best

[3] These are the last two Soorahs of the Qur’aan: Soorah al-Falaq and Soorah an-Naas

[4] This hadeeth is authentic; al-Albaanee graded its chain good in as-Saheehah no. 645