Is it considered an innovation (bid‘ah) to recite the following invocations ten times after each obligatory prayer: sending blessings upon the Prophet, Surat Al-Ikhlas, "Subhan Allah wa bihamdihi, Subhan Allah Al-Azim" (Glory be to Allah and with His praise, Glory be to Allah the Almighty), "La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah" (There is no might nor power except with Allah), seeking forgiveness (Istighfar), "Subhan Allah, walhamdulillah, wa la ilaha illa Allah, wallahu Akbar" (Glory be to Allah, and praise be to Allah, and there is no god but Allah, and Allah is the Greatest), "La ilaha illa Anta, Subhanaka inni kuntu min al-dhalimin" (There is no god but You; glory be to You! Indeed, I was of the wrongdoers), and "Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah wahdahu la sharika lah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasuluh, ‘adada khalqihi, wa rida nafsihi, wa zinata ‘arshihi, wa midada kalimatihi" (I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, alone without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His messenger, commensurate with the number of His creation, and to the extent of His pleasure, and to the weight of His Throne, and to the ink of His words)? And what is the reward for these invocations if they are not an innovation?
The Sunnah contains remembrances (dhikr) after prayer, including seeking forgiveness three times, and saying: "None has the right to be worshipped but Allah alone, Who has no partner. To Him belongs all sovereignty and praise, and He is over all things competent. There is no might nor power except with Allah. None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and we worship none but Him. To Him belongs all blessings, grace, and excellent praise. None has the right to be worshipped but Allah. We are sincere in our devotion to Him, even if the disbelievers detest it." And "O Allah, there is none to withhold what You have given, and none to give what You have withheld, and the might of the mighty benefits him not against You." Also, reciting Ayat al-Kursy, and Surahs Al-Ikhlas and Al-Mu'awwidhatayn once (three times after Maghrib and Fajr), and saying: "SubhanAllah" (33 times), "Alhamdulillah" (33 times), and "Allahu Akbar" (33 times), completing the hundred with "None has the right to be worshipped but Allah alone, Who has no partner. To Him belongs all sovereignty and praise. He gives life and causes death, and He is over all things competent." As for specifying particular remembrances with a certain time and number without evidence, that is an innovation (bid'ah), and goodness lies in following the guidance of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. A Muslim should busy himself with the remembrance of Allah at all times with any of the legislated remembrances.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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