After the prayer what is the proper order to do the following things, and are they to be done out loud or silently?

• Supplications from the Sunnah

• Phrases of remembrance (ath-kaar)

• Recitation of the last three soorahs of the Qur'aan

• Recitation of Aayah Al-Kursee

What seems to be the proper order for these things is as follows:

1) When the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) finished his prayers, he started with his saying of "Astagh-firullaah" three times. [1]

2) Then he would say "Allaahumma antas-Salaam wa minkas-Salaam, tabaarakta yaa thal-jalaali wal-ikraam."[2]

3) Then he would say the other reported supplications, like, "Laa ilaaha ill Allaah wa laa na'budu illaa iyyaah..." [3]

4) Then he would commence making the tasbeehs, saying, "Sub-haan Allaah," "Al-hamdulillaah," and "Allaahuakbar," 33 times each. [4]

5) Then he would recite Aayah Al-Kursee, as it is what has been reported that he (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) used to recite after each prayer.

As for the recitation of Soorah Al-Ikhlaas, Soorah Al-Falaq, and Soorah An-Naas, then they are to be recited in the morning and in the evening only. It has not been authentically narrated, to the best of our knowledge, that they were recited after each prayer, and Allaah knows best. [5]

And as for the question, "Are these things to be said out loud or quietly?" It has been authentically reported from Ibn 'Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him), as Al-Bukhaaree reported [6], that he said they used to know when the Messenger's prayer (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) was over due to the voices of the Companions making takbeer, meaning the supplications after the prayer.

Imaam Ash-Shaafi'ee, may Allaah have Mercy on him, said that this raising of their voices with takbeer after the prayer was only done sometimes, not always, and it was done to teach the people. Imaam Ash-Shaafi'ee had warned that it is not for the Muslims to raise their voices with these phrases of thikr and supplications, unless there is a need to teach them to the people. If the people are not in need of learning them, then the norm is that a person does not raise his voice, rather he says these things in a silent way so that he himself hears them, and Allaah knows best.

FOOTNOTES

[1] Saheeh Muslim #1333 (3/92 of Sharh An-Nawawee) and Saheeh Sunan At-Tirmithee #300 (1/176)

[2] Saheeh Muslim #1334 (3/92 of Sharh An-Nawawee) and Saheeh Sunan At-Tirmithee #298 (1/175)

[3] Saheeh Muslim #1342 (3/94 of Sharh An-Nawawee)

[4] Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree #843 (2/397-398 of Fat-hul-Baaree) and Saheeh Muslim #1346 (3/95 of Sharh An-Nawawee)

[5] Translator's note: Imaam Ahmad collected a narration mentioning that 'Uqbah ibn 'Aamir (may Allaah be pleased with him) was ordered by the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) to recite the mu'awwithaat (the last three soorahs of the Qur'aan: Ikhlaas, Falaq, and Naas) after each prayer. It is #17417 in the Musnad (28/633 of Ar-Risaalah), and Al-Albaanee declared it to be authentic in his checking of Shaykh Al-Islaam's Al-Kalim At-Tayyib (p.114).

[6] Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree #841 (2/395-396 of Fat-hul-Baaree)