Question:
What supplication should be recited after Tashahhud in prayer? Some say there are three versions. Which is authentic?
Answer:
There are not only three—there are many supplications. Any supplication authentically taught by the Prophetﷺ may be recited. For example, Aisha (Mother of Believers) (may Allahﷻ be pleased with her) reported that the Prophetﷺ recited certain supplications in prayer, recorded in Sahih Bukhari Hadith 832. That supplication can be recited.
“Allahumma inni a`udhu bika min `adhabi l-qabr, wa a`udhu bika min fitnati l-masihi d-dajjal, wa a`udhu bika min fitnati l-mahya wa fitnati l-mamat. Allahumma inni a`udhu bika mina l-ma’thami wa l-maghram.
O Allah, I seek refuge with You from the punishment of the grave, from the afflictions of the imposter- Messiah, and from the afflictions of life and death. O Allah, I seek refuge with You from sins and from debt.”
Another supplication is recorded in Bukhari Hadith 834, where Abu Bakr asked the Prophetﷺ to teach him a supplication to recite during prayer. The Prophetﷺ taught him one, which may also be memorized and recited.
“Allahumma inni zalumtu nafsi zulman kathiran, Wala yaghfiru dh-dhunuba illa anta, fa ghfir li maghfiratan min `indika, wa r-hamni, innaka anta l-ghafuru r-rahim’’
(O Allah! I have done great injustice to myself and none except You forgives sins, so bestow on me a forgiveness from You, and Have Mercy on me, You are the Forgiver, the Merciful)
In Sahih Muslim, another narration instructs seeking refuge from four things after Tashahhud. That supplication can also be recited. It begins with seeking protection from Hellfire and other trials.
Allahumma inni a’udhu bika min ‘adhabil qabr wa min ‘adhabi jahannam, wa min fitnatil-mahya wal-mamat, wa min sharri fitnatil-masihid-Dajjal.
(Oh Allah I seek refuge in you,from affliction of the torment of the grave ,from the affliction of the torment of the Hellfire from the trial of life and death and from the evil of affliction of Al Maseeh ad Dajjal)
Another supplication recorded in Bukhari Hadith 2822 may also be recited.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْجُبْنِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ أُرَدَّ إِلَى أَرْذَلِ الْعُمُرِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ فِتْنَةِ الدُّنْيَا، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ
“Allahumma innee avoozubika minal jubun, va avoozubika an uraddu ila arzalil umur, va avoozubika min fithnathid dhunya, va avoozubika min azaabil qabr’’
‘O Allah! I seek refuge with You from cowardice, and seek refuge with You from being brought back to a bad stage of old life and seek refuge with You from the afflictions of the world, and seek refuge with You from the punishments in the grave’
Similarly, another supplication in Sahih Muslim 534 mentions reciting it before giving salam.
Allaahum-maghfir lee maa qaddamatu, wa maa ‘akhkhartu, wa maa ‘asrartu, wa maa a’lantu, wa maa ‘asraftu, wa maa ‘Anta a’lamu bihi minnee. ‘Antal-Muqaddimu (The One Who brings forward) wa ‘Antal-Mu’akhkhiru (The One Who puts back) laa ‘ilaaha ‘illaa Anta.
“O Allah, forgive me for those sins which have come to pass as well as those which shall come to pass, and those I have committed in secret as well as those I have made public, and where I have exceeded all bounds as well as those things about which You are more knowledgeable. You are Al-Muqaddim and Al-Mu-akhkhir. None has the right to be worshipped except You.”
Another dua:
‘Rabbee innee alaa zikrika va shukrika va husnil ibaadhathika’’
‘O Allah, help me remember You, to be grateful to You, and to worship You in an excellent manner’
Another dua; if longer supplications are difficult to memorize, shorter authentic supplications found in Sunan An-Nasai may also be recited. Many authentic supplications exist, and any of them may be used.
Allaahumma ‘innee a’oothu bika min sharri maa ‘amiltu, wa min sharri maa lam a’mal
O Allah! I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done, and from the evil of what I have not done.
All are authentic.