Duas to Recite during and after Salat

Thauban (RA) reported: Whenever the Messenger of Allah (SAW) concluded his prayer, he would beg forgiveness from Allah thrice and then would recite: "Allahumma Antas-Salamu, wa minkas-salamu, tabarakta ya Dhal-Jalali wal-Ikram (O Allah, You are the Grantor of security, and security comes from You. You are Blessing, O You Who have majesty and nobility)!" (Imam) Al-Awza'i, one of the narrators of this Hadith, was asked: "How forgiveness is to be sought?" He answered: "The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) used to say: 'Astaghfirullah! Astaghfirullah! (I beseech Allah for forgiveness, I beseech Allah for forgiveness)'." [Muslim]

Sa'd bin Abu Waqqas (RA) reported: The Messenger of Allah (SAW) used to seek (Allah's) protection after prayers in these words: "Alla-humma inni a'udhu bika minal-jubni wal-bukhl, wa a'udhu bika min an uradda ila ardhalil-'umur, wa a'udhu bika min fitnatid-dunya, wa a'udhu bika min fitnatil-qabr (O Allah, I seek refuge with You from cowardice, miserliness and from being sent back to a feeble age; and, seek refuge with You from the trials of this life and those of the grave)."

Mu'adh (RA) reported: The Messenger of Allah (SAW) took hold of my hand and said, "O Mu'adh! By Allah I love you, so I advise you to never forget to recite after every prayer: "Allahumma a'inni ala dhikrika, wa shukrika, wa husni 'ibadatika (O Allah, help me remember You, to be grateful to You, and to worship You in an excellent manner)."

Abu Hurairah (RA) reported: The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, "When anyone of you has done his Tashahhud during Salat (prayer), he should seek refuge in Allah against four things and say: "Allahumma inni a'udhu bika min 'adhabi jahannam, wa min 'adhabil-qabr, wa min fitnatil-mahya wal-mamat, wa min sharri fitnatil-masihid-dajjal (O Allah! I seek refuge in you from the torment of Hell, from the torment of the grave, from the trials of life and death, and from the mischief of Al-Masih Ad-Dajjal (Antichrist)."

'Ali (RA) reported: When the Messenger of Allah (SAW) was in Salat (prayer), he used to supplicate towards the end of prayer after Tashahhud and before the concluding salutations: "Allahum-maghfir li ma qaddamtu wa ma akh-khartu, wa ma asrartu, wa ma a'lantu, wa ma asraftu, wa ma Anta a'lamu bihi minni. Antal-Muqqadimu, wa Antal-Mu'akh-khiru. La ilaha illa Anta (O Allah! Forgive my former and latter sins, which I have done secretly and those which I have done openly, and that I have wronged others, and those defaults of mine about which you have better knowledge than I have. You alone can send whomever you will to Jannah, and You Alone can send whomever you will to Hell-fire. None has the right to be worshipped but you."

We supplicate day and night for our dua’s to come true. How about if we know about a certain moment in which we make dua and it comes true? Yes there is a moment and it occurs on the day of Friday. A hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah indicates about it:

"There is a time on Friday at which a Muslim, while he (or she) is performing Salat and is supplicating, will be granted whatever he (or she) is supplicating for." And he (PBUH) pointed with his hand to indicate that this period of time is very short. [Al-Bukari and Muslim]

The above hadith mentions about a specific moment (that occurs on Friday) in which every prayer that a person makes is granted with the condition that what one is asking for is good and lawful. It is a very short lived moment i.e. it’s equal to the distance between index and middle finger. The specific time when it occurs has also not been revealed. For this reason one should remember Allah frequently and pray to Him on Jumu'ah so that one attains that moment when prayers are answered. Prayers can also be answered outside Salat if one happens to be supplicating at the specified moment.

Forgiveness-An Islamic virtue

Mercy and forgiveness are merits of Allah. Islam has attached great importance to the act of seeking forgiveness of sins from Allah. There are many duas thought by Prophet Muhammad and holy Quran for instance, "Pardon us, forgive us our sins, and have mercy upon us" (Quran 2/286).

No matter what our sins are we expect Allah to forgive us. The Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) said, "My heart is clouded until I have asked God’s forgiveness seventy times during the day and night.". The point here is that when we are expecting Allah to forgive us then when it comes on us to do the same for someone then why do we hesitate and our heart hardens. Forgiveness is an Allah’s trait and his servants should acquire the same trait. We are likewise to show mercy and forgiveness to our fellow men. (Quran 90/17) Since God is Himself forgiving, He desires that people should cultivate this attribute and show forgiveness to other human beings. (Quran 24/22; 64/14).

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) taught his followers that the individual, who pardons his enemy, even while having the power to extract revenge, will be nearest to God in the Hereafter. Once the Prophet (PBUH) was asked, "How many times are we to forgive our servants’ faults?" He remained silent. The questioner repeated his question. But the Prophet gave no answer. But when the person asked a third time, he said, "Forgive your servant seventy times a day."

A Muslim should forgive the mistakes and wrongs of his fellow human beings. Forgiveness is Allah quality and a believer should have this quality too.