Praise be to Allah.
The Authentic Sunnah of Dhikr After Witr
What is proven from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) is that he used to say “Subhan Al-Malik Al-Quddus (Glory be to the Sovereign, the Most Holy)” following Witr prayer .
So it is Sunnah for the worshippers to follow his example in that, whether you pray in the mosque or at home, and whether you pray separately or in congregation.
Is ‘Subhan Al-Malik Al-Qudus’ Recited during Tarawih?
But it is not prescribed to constantly recite this Dhikr between the Rak`ahs of Qiyam Al-layl (voluntary night prayers) or between the Rak`ahs of Tarawih, because there is no report from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), or from his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) to suggest that they recited it between the Rak`ahs Tarawih.
What the Muslim must do is adhere to the Sunnah with regard to doing actions or refraining from them, and he should avoid adding anything to or taking anything away from the Sunnah.
The Hadith on What to Say after Witr
It was narrated from `Abd Ar-Rahman ibn Abza (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to recite in Witr “Sabbih isma Rabbika Al-A`la (Glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High)…” [i.e., Surat Al-A`la 87] and Qul ya ayyuha’l-kafirun (Say (O Muhammad), ‘O Al-Kafirun (disbelievers))…’” [i.e., Surat Al-Kafirun 109] and “Qul Huwa Allahu ahad (Say (O Muhammad), ‘He is Allah, (the) One)…” [i.e., Surat Al-Ikhlas 112]. And after he said the Taslim he would say “Subhan Al-Malik Al-Quddus, Subhan Al-Malik Al-Quddus (Glory be to the Sovereign, the Most Holy)”, three times, raising his voice the third time. (Narrated by Abu Dawud At-Tayalisi in Al-Musnad, 1/441; Ibn Al-Ja`d in Al-Musnad, 1/86; Ibn Abi Shaybah in Al-Musannaf, 2/93; Imam Ahmad in Al-Musnad, 24/72, and others, with many chains of narration. It was classed as authentic by more than one of the Hadith scholars, such as Ibn Mulaqqin, Al-Albani, Shaykh Muqbil Al-Wadi`i and the editors of Ar-Risalah edition of Musnad Ahmad, and others)
Scholarly Views on Reciting Dhikr After Witr
Hadith scholars included it under chapter headings which indicate that it is recommended to recite this Dhikr following Witr .
- Ibn Abu Shaybah (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated it under a chapter heading: What Du`a a man should recite at the end of his Witr.
- Abu Dawud (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Chapter on Du`a after Witr.
- An-Nasa’i (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Chapter on Tasbih after finishing Witr.
- Ibn Hibban (may Allah have mercy on him) included it under a chapter heading in his Sahih (6/202): Mention of what it is mustahabb to say in glorification of Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, when he finishes his Witr.
- Imam An-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
It is recommended to say three times after Witr: “Subhan Al-Malik Al-Quddus (Glory be to the Sovereign, the Most Holy)”. (End quote from Al-Majmu` Sharh Al-Muhadhdhab, 4/16. See also: Tuhfat Al-Muhtaj, 2/227)
- Ibn Qudamah (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
It is recommended to say after Witr: “Subhan Al-Malik Al-Quddus (Glory be to the Sovereign, the Most Holy)” three times, and to elongate the vowel the third time. (End quote from Al-Mughni, 2/122)
- Something similar was said in Fatawa Al-Lajnah Ad-Da’imah (vol. 2, 6/60): When he says Salam at the end of Witr, he should say “Subhan Al-Malik Al-Quddus (Glory be to the Sovereign, the Most Holy)” three times. (End quote)
By the same token, we have not come across any of the scholars saying that it is recommended to recite the words “Subhan Al-Malik Al-Quddus (Glory be to the Sovereign, the Most Holy)” in any prayer other than after Witr.
Is Group Dhikr Permissible?
On our website we have already explained that it is disallowed to recite Adhkar in unison, as is customary in some mosques, between the Rak`ahs of Tarawih, whether that is Istighfar (prayer for forgiveness) or Tasbih. Gathering to recite Dhikr without any Shar`i evidence brings a person closer to Bid`ah (innovation) and further away from the Sunnah.
In conclusion, it is not prescribed for the worshippers to say “Subhan Al-Malik Al-Quddus (Glory be to the Sovereign, the Most Holy)” between the Rak`ahs or Tarawih; rather that should be after Witr.
It is not prescribed to recite prayers for forgiveness in unison between the Rak`ahs of Tarawih, but reciting prayers for forgiveness and Tasbih individually is permissible.
Check these answers for more details: (37753, 50718, 108506, 121270 and 190881)
And Allah knows best.
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