What to Say After Reading Quran

Here’s something to say when you’ve finished reciting the Quran. Unfortunately, the invention of reading (صدق الله العظيم) has grown immensely popular. The following is the Sunnah:

The Correct Thing to Say After Reading the Quran

Aisha radiallahu anha said:

ما جلس رسول الله – صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم – مجلسا ، ولا تلى قرآن ، ولا صلى صلاة ، إلا ختم ذلك بكلمات ، قالت : فقلت : يا رسول الله أراك ما تجلس مجلسا ولا تتلو قرآنا ، ولا تصلى صلاة ، إلا ختمت بهؤلاء الكلمات قال : نعم ، من قال خيرا ختم له طابع على ذلك الخير ، ومن قال شرا ، كن له كفارة : سبحانك وبحمدك ، لا إله إلا أنت ، أستغفرك وأتوب إليك

The Prophet Muhammad, sallahu alayhi wa salam, never sat in a sitting, recited the Quran, or said a prayer until he finished it with such words. So I replied to him, “Oh Messenger of Allah, I observe that you do not sit in a gathering, recite the Quran, or offer a prayer until you finish with these words.” Yes, he replied. Whoever talks good will accomplish the task for him and serve as a seal for that good. And anyone uttered something bad will be punished:

سبحانك وبحمدك ، لا إله إلا أنت ، أستغفرك وأتوب إليك

Allah, You are faultless and without flaws; praise be to You. I declare that You are the one genuine god; I beg Your forgiveness and turn to You in repentance.

[Nasai reported it in Amal ul-Yawm wa Laylah, and Shaikh Wad’iee rated it Saheeh in Saheeh Musnad no. 1598]

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ هَذَا كِتَابُكَ الْمُنْزَلُ مِنْ عِنْدِكَ عَلَى رَسُولِكَ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ

O Allah, I swear that this is the Book that Thou hast given to Thy Messenger Muhammad bin Abdillah, may Allah’s blessings be upon him and his offspring;

وَ كَلاَمُكَ النَّاطِقُ عَلَى لِسَانِ نَبِيِّكَ جَعَلْتَهُ هَادِياً مِنْكَ إِلَى خَلْقِكَ وَ حَبْلاً مُتَّصِلاً فِيمَا بَيْنَكَ وَ بَيْنَ عِبَادِكَ

(These are) Thy Words, which Thou gave speech to via Thy Prophet, whom Thou designated as a Guide for the people and an unbroken bond of protecting friendship between Thee and Thy followers.

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي نَشَرْتُ عَهْدَكَ وَ كِتَابَكَ اللَّهُمَّ فَاجْعَلْ نَظَرِي فِيهِ عِبَادَةً وَ قِرَاءَتِي فِيهِ فِكْراً وَ فِكْرِي فِيهِ اعْتِبَاراً

I make public Thy testament and Thy Book, O Allah. O Allah, please allow me to devote my complete attention to (this) lovely religious task; please allow me to observe and learn from (this) careful meditation.

وَ اجْعَلْنِي مِمَّنِ اتَّعَظَ بِبَيَانِ مَوَاعِظِكَ فِيهِ وَ اجْتَنَبَ مَعَاصِيَكَ

Let me be one of those who heed Thy straightforward warnings and teachings provided in this Book, and abstains from what Thou has made illegal. 

وَ لاَ تَجْعَلْ نَظَرِي فِيهِ غَفْلَةً وَ لاَ قِرَاءَتِي هَذَراً إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الرَّءُوفُ الرَّحِيمُ

Allow neither my focus nor my recital to lapse into a crazy babble. Merciful, you are indeed full of sympathy.