What do you say after the prayer?
After the salam, the sunnah is to stay seated for a few minutes of remembrance: say "Astaghfirullah" three times, then "Allahumma antas-salam", then SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah and Allahu Akbar 33 times each, and complete the hundred with "La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah". Many also recite Ayatul Kursi.
By Benjamin · Last updated
Step by step
- Astaghfirullah, three times. Right after the salam, ask Allah to forgive whatever fell short in your prayer.
- Allahumma antas-salam. Say it once, with its meaning in your heart.
- SubhanAllah, 33 times. Count on the joints of your right hand, or use a string of prayer beads.
- Alhamdulillah, 33 times. Thank Allah for every blessing.
- Allahu Akbar, 33 times. That makes 99.
- Complete the hundred. Say the tahlil once: "La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa huwa 'ala kulli shay'in qadir".
- Ayatul Kursi. Recite the Verse of the Throne (2:255) after each obligatory prayer.
The words
Three times
أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ
Astaghfirullah
I seek forgiveness from Allah
Once
اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ السَّلَامُ وَمِنْكَ السَّلَامُ تَبَارَكْتَ يَا ذَا الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ
Allahumma antas-salam wa minkas-salam, tabarakta ya dhal-jalali wal-ikram
O Allah, You are Peace, and from You is peace. Blessed are You, O Owner of Majesty and Honor.
33 times
سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ
SubhanAllah
Glory be to Allah
33 times
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ
Alhamdulillah
All praise is due to Allah
33 times
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allahu Akbar
Allah is the Greatest
Once, to complete 100
لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa huwa 'ala kulli shay'in qadir
There is no god but Allah, alone, without partner. To Him belongs sovereignty and to Him belongs praise, and He is over all things capable.
Counting on your fingers
Each finger has three joints, so one hand counts to 15. Go through the fingers of your right hand twice to reach 30, then add three more for 33.
If 33 of each feels like a lot at first, start with fewer and build up. Doing a little every time is better than doing a lot once.
Learn Ayatul Kursi by heart, line by line, with the free memoriser.
Prayer times today: London · Birmingham · Manchester · Bradford · All UK towns
Common questions
Is dhikr after prayer obligatory?
No. It is sunnah, a practice of the Prophet (peace be upon him), and very rewarding, but your prayer is complete without it.
Can I use prayer beads?
Yes. Many Muslims use a string of 33 beads to keep count. Counting on the fingers of the right hand is also sunnah.
Do I say it after sunnah prayers too?
This set is taught after the obligatory prayers. Remembering Allah at any time is good.
Practise it with audio
Revertly walks you through this with a recitation for every word, at your own pace. Can't afford the app? Ask for a free code.