The Holy Qur’an is the complete guide of life. Even if you read this great book revealed to the last and greatest Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), 10 rewards per letter. So to get the reward in the best way, we need to know – Which Surah to recite after each prayer.
Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said:
“Those who recite the Qur’an correctly will have a status equal to the honourable angels; And for those who continue to recite the Qur’an correctly despite the hardships, there is a double reward.’ (Abu Dawud: 1454)
Which Surah to recite after each prayer
It’s not determined Which Surah to recite after each prayer. The Quran can be recited day and night whenever you want. There is no difference in reward. However, at the end of each prayer, there is a description of the special virtues of reciting certain surahs.
after the Fajr prayer
After the Fajr prayer, it’s recommended to recite Surah Al-Sajdah and Surah Al-Insan according to some narrations. This recommendation is based on the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), as mentioned in various Hadiths.
However, if you don’t have these specific Surahs memorized or prefer to recite other parts of the Quran, you can recite any portion of the Quran that you are comfortable with or that you find beneficial for your spiritual practice.
Additionally, you may engage in other acts of worship, such as making supplications (duas), engaging in dhikr, or performing voluntary prayers (nafl) after the Fajr prayer.
Hadith
There is no specific hadith about reciting any particular surah after the Fajr prayer. It is mentioned in the Sahih Hadith that Zikr-Azkar should be recited until sunrise. However, a hadith regarding this has been narrated from Tabee’i Ata (RA) (Mursalan). The hadith is-
عن عطا بن ابي رباحٍ قال: بلغني ان رسول اللّٰہ صلی الّٰہ علیہ وسلم قال: من قرا يٰس في صدر النهار قضيت حوائج۔ (رواہ الدارمي) (فضائل القرآن / فضائل قرآن 1؍52 إشاعۃ دينيات دهلي)
Ata bin Abi Rabah (R.A.) narrates, I heard Rasulullah (S.A.W.) saying, ‘Whoever recites Surah Yasin during the day, all his Hajat (needs) will be fulfilled.’
It should be noted that the narrators of this hadith have called it weak. Although there is no difficulty in acting on such a hadith, the Muhaddith say.
after the Zuhr prayer
After the Zuhr prayer, there isn’t a specific Surah that one must read. However, there are recommended acts of worship and dhikr (remembrance of Allah) that one may engage in. These can include reciting any portion of the Quran, engaging in supplications (duas), or performing other acts of remembrance.
While there isn’t a designated Surah for recitation after the Zuhr prayer, you may choose to recite any Surah or verses from the Quran that you find beneficial or meaningful to you. Some people may prefer shorter Surahs or portions of longer ones due to time constraints, while others may opt for longer passages for reflection and contemplation.
Even after the Zuhr prayer, no specific sura is mentioned in the hadith. However, earlier scholars used to recite Surah Fatah after Zuhr.
In the hadith about the virtues of Surah Fatah, Rasulullah (SAW) said to Umar (RA), ‘A Surah has been revealed to me tonight, which is better for me than all the places where the sun shines. He then recited the first verse of Surah Fatah. (Bukhari: 4177)
after the Asr prayer
After the Asr prayer, there isn’t a specific Surah that one must read. However, there are certain recommended acts of worship and dhikr that one may engage in. These can include reciting any portion of the Quran, engaging in supplications (duas), or performing other acts of remembrance of Allah.
While there isn’t a specific Surah designated for recitation after the Asr prayer, you may choose to recite any Surah or verses from the Quran that you find beneficial or meaningful to you. Some people may choose to recite shorter Surahs or portions of longer ones due to time constraints, while others may prefer longer passages for reflection and contemplation.
Ultimately, the choice of what to recite after the Asr prayer is a personal one, and you may select any Surah or verses that resonate with you spiritually or that you wish to focus on during your worship.
There is no mention in the hadith of reciting any specific sura even after Asr. But there is a weak hadith about the virtues of Surah Nabar—
“Whoever recites Surah Naba, Allah will satisfy him with a cold drink on the Day of Resurrection.” (Tafseer Kashshaf: 6/303)
after the Maghrib prayer
After the Maghrib prayer, it is recommended to recite Surah Al-Kahf and Surah Al-Waqiya. This recommendation is based on a Hadith narrated by Imam Muslim in which the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) encouraged Muslims to recite Surah Al-Kahf every Friday.
Additionally, you may also recite any other Surah or verses from the Quran after the Maghrib prayer as part of your voluntary prayers or dhikr (remembrance of Allah). The choice is flexible, and you can select any portion of the Quran that you prefer or find beneficial for your spiritual practice.
Hadith
The narration of reciting Surah Waqya after Maghrib prayer or at night comes in the hadith. Abdullah Ibn Masood (R.A.) said, Rasulullah (S.A.) said—
Those who read Surah Al-Waaqaat every night never forget it
“He who recites Surah Waqya every night, poverty will never touch him”. Ibn Masood (RA) used to order his daughters to recite this Surah every night. (Bayhaqi: Shuabul Iman: 2498; Meshkat p: 189)
Surah Waqbiyah benefits after Maghrib
In the books of various tafsirs about the recitation of Surah Waqiya after Maghrib or at night, there is an instructive dialogue of Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud on his last bed.
Ibn Kasir quoting Ibn Asakir narrates this incident that Abdullah Ibn Masud RA. When Antim was on his last bed, Amirul Mu’minin Osman RA. Go see him Then the educational conversation between them is as follows:
— Osman: What is your illness?
— Ibn Mas’ud: My sins are my sickness
— Osman: What is your desire?
— Ibn Mas’ud: I seek the mercy of my Lord
— Osman: Shall I call a doctor for you?
— Ibn Mas’ud: The doctor made me sick
— Osman: Shall I send you a gift from the government treasury?
— Ibn Mas’ud: There is no need for.
— Osman: Accept gifts It will benefit your daughters after you.
— Ibn Mas’ud: You are thinking that my daughters will fall into poverty and fasting. I have instructed my daughters that they should recite Surah Waqiya every night.
Then he said, I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying,
مَنْ قَرَأَ سُورَةَ الْوَاقِعَةِ كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ , لَمْ تُصِبْهُ فَاقَةٌ أَبَدًا
A person who recites Surah Waqiya every night will never fast (Tafseer Ma’areful Qur’an 8/106 Safayat Tafasi 3/304 Ibn Qasir 4/281 Dated Damascus 36/444 Bayhaqi 4/119
after Isha prayer
In Islam, there isn’t a specific Surah that one must read after the Isha prayer. However, there are certain recommended Surahs or verses that one may choose to recite after performing the Isha prayer, as part of their voluntary prayers or dhikr (remembrance of Allah). Some common choices include:
- Surah Al-Mulk (Chapter 67)
- Surah Al-Waqi’ah (Chapter 56)
- Surah Al-Falaq (Chapter 113)
- Surah An-Nas (Chapter 114)
- Ayat al-Kursi (Verse 255 of Chapter 2, Surah Al-Baqarah)
These Surahs and verses are often recited due to their virtues and benefits mentioned in various Hadiths. However, it’s also perfectly acceptable to recite any other portion of the Quran or engage in other forms of dhikr or supplication after performing the Isha prayer.
Hadith
There is a hadith about reciting Surah Mulk after Isha, Jaber (RA) said, “The Messenger of Allah (SAW) would not sleep without reciting Surah Sajdah and Surah Mulk.” ’ (Tirmidhi: 2892)
Also, the Prophet (PBUH) said, “There is a Surah in the Qur’an, which has 30 verses. The verses will intercede for the reciter and he will be forgiven. And that is ‘Tabarakallaji Biadihil Mulk’ (Surah Mulk)’ (Tirmidhi: 2891).
FAQs
Can I recite any other surah after prayer?
Yes, you can recite any other Surah after Namaz. Because there is no recommended surah to recite after each prayer. You can also read any other part of the Quran, that you feel comfortable with.
Is there any specific reward for reciting these surahs after prayer?
No, there is no specific reward in the hadith for reciting these surahs after prayer. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) did not prescribe the virtue of reciting certain surahs after prayer.
However, scholars have recommended reciting certain surahs after each prayer, for example, stating that reciting Surah Al Kafirun and Surah Ikhlas after every prayer is equivalent to performing the prayer at a higher level.
Can I recite more than one surah after prayer?
Yes, you can recite multiple Surahs after Namaz if you wish. The suggested Surahs are only a guide. Instead, every Muslim should recite more.
Is it wajib to recite a specific surah after every prayer?
No, it is not wajib to recite a particular surah after every prayer. This is a recommended practice. You are free to read other verses or chapters.
can I read the surah translation after the prayer?
The ideal practice is to read the Qur’an in Arabic. Learn Arabic if you don’t know it. But if you don’t know Arabic then you can read the translation of Surah meaning. But by this, you will not get the reward of reciting the Quran.
What happens if you forget to read the surah after prayer?
There is no sin or punishment for forgetting to recite a certain surah after prayer. This is a recommended practice. If you miss it, you can make intentions to do better in the future.
Are there specific Surahs to seek protection or blessings from?
Yes, Surah Al-Falaq (Chapter 113) and Surah Al-Nas (Chapter 114) are often recited for protection. Thus one can recite Surah al-Fatiha (chapter 1) and Surah al-Baqarah (chapter 2, verses 285-286).
Can I read the surah silently, or should I read it aloud after the prayer?
After the prayer, you can recite the surah silently or aloud. Practices vary among individuals. Both ways are acceptable. However, if you sit in the mosque after prayer and read the surah, you should be careful not to cause inconvenience to other people due to your reading.
