Many Muslims ask about the adhkar after prayer reported from the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. Among the commonly asked practices are saying:

“There is no deity except Allah alone, without partner. To Him belongs the dominion and praise. He gives life and causes death, and He has power over all things.”

ten times after Fajr and Maghrib, reciting Al-Ikhlas and the Mu'awwidhat three times, and saying:

“My Lord, protect me from Your punishment on the Day You resurrect Your servants.”

seven times.

What is authentically established regarding these practices?

Is the Tahlil After Every Prayer Authentic?

It is authentically reported that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would say after prayer:

“There is no deity except Allah alone, without partner. To Him belongs the dominion and praise, and He has power over all things. O Allah, none can withhold what You give, none can give what You withhold, and worldly status cannot benefit against You.”

It is also reported in Sahih Muslim that he would say after every prayer:

“There is no deity except Allah alone, without partner. To Him belongs the dominion and praise, and He has power over all things...”

This establishes the general practice of making tahlil and dhikr after prayer.

Is Tahlil Said 10 Times After Fajr and Maghrib?

A narration reports a special virtue for saying the phrase:

“There is no deity except Allah alone, without partner. To Him belongs the dominion and praise, and He has power over all things.”

ten times after the morning prayer and likewise after the evening prayer.

The narration mentions rewards including ten good deeds, ten sins being erased, ten degrees being raised, and protection from Satan.

The narration has been graded acceptable or authentic by a number of scholars, including Shaykh Al-Albani, while Shu'ayb Al-Arna'ut also authenticated one of its chains.

Therefore, saying this dhikr ten times after Fajr and Maghrib has a basis in the reported Sunnah according to these scholarly evaluations.

Reciting Al-Ikhlas and the Mu'awwidhat After Prayer

It is authentically reported from Uqbah ibn Amir, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet instructed him to recite the protective surahs after every prayer.

The Mu'awwidhat refer to:

• Surah Al-Ikhlas.
• Surah Al-Falaq.
• Surah An-Nas.

Thus, reciting these surahs after the obligatory prayers is supported by the Sunnah.

Are They Recited Three Times After Fajr and Maghrib?

The Prophet also instructed Muslims to recite Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas three times in the morning and evening.

A narration states that whoever recites them three times in the morning and evening, they will suffice him from everything.

This practice is therefore established as part of the morning and evening adhkar, while the instruction to recite the protective surahs after each prayer is established separately.

Is “My Lord, Protect Me From Your Punishment” Authentic?

It is authentically reported in Sahih Muslim from Al-Bara' ibn Azib, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would say:

“My Lord, protect me from Your punishment on the Day You resurrect or gather Your servants.”

The supplication itself is therefore authentically reported.

However, there is no established authentic evidence that the Prophet repeated this supplication seven times after Fajr and Maghrib.

Therefore, the supplication is authentic, but specifying seven repetitions at those particular times is not established by an authentic report.

What About Saying “O Allah, Protect Me From the Fire” Seven Times?

A narration found in Abu Dawud and other collections mentions saying:

“O Allah, grant me protection from the Fire.”

seven times after Maghrib and seven times after Fajr.

However, this narration was graded weak by Shaykh Al-Albani.

Therefore, it should not be presented as an authentically established Sunnah from the Prophet, although asking Allah for protection from Hellfire is unquestionably a legitimate supplication in itself.

Authentic Adhkar After Prayer

Among the established forms of dhikr after prayer are:

1. Seeking Forgiveness Three Times

The Prophet would seek Allah's forgiveness three times after completing the prayer.

2. Tahlil

This includes saying:

“There is no deity except Allah alone, without partner. To Him belongs the dominion and praise, and He has power over all things.”

3. Tasbih, Tahmid and Takbir

The Sunnah also includes glorifying Allah, praising Him and declaring His greatness after prayer in the forms and numbers reported in authentic narrations.

4. Reciting the Protective Surahs

Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas are among the established recitations connected with protection and remembrance, with their threefold recitation established in the morning and evening.

Conclusion

Several adhkar after prayer are authentically established from the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, including tahlil, seeking forgiveness, tasbih, tahmid, takbir and reciting the protective surahs.

A specific narration also reports the virtue of saying the tahlil phrase ten times after Fajr and Maghrib, and this narration has been considered acceptable or authentic by a number of scholars.

The threefold recitation of Al-Ikhlas and the Mu'awwidhat is established as part of the morning and evening adhkar, while reciting the Mu'awwidhat after every prayer is also authentically reported.

As for “My Lord, protect me from Your punishment on the Day You resurrect Your servants,” the supplication itself is authentic, but specifying seven repetitions after Fajr and Maghrib is not established.

The safest approach is to remain committed to the authentic Sunnah, combining abundant remembrance of Allah with careful adherence to what has actually been transmitted from the Prophet.