Group chanting of Kalimatu Ikhlas

Question: Is it permissible to make group chanting of Kalimatu Ikhlas (e.g., “La ilaha illallah”) at the end of each Salah?

Praise be to Allah

Summary:
While personal dhikr (remembrance of Allah) after Salah is highly recommended, chanting specific phrases like “La ilaha illallah” in a loud, collective voice at the end of each prayer is not a part of the Sunnah. This was not practiced by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) or his companions, and is thus considered an innovation (Bid’ah).

Detailed Answer:
The Sunnah encourages individual dhikr after Salah, such as saying “Allahu Akbar” 33 times, “Alhamdulillah” 33 times, and “SubhanAllah” 33 times, with a final “La ilaha illallah.” This personal practice is noted in a Hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): “Whoever recites after every prayer thirty-three times SubhanAllah, thirty-three times Alhamdulillah, and thirty-three times Allahu Akbar, and completes a hundred by saying, ‘La ilaha illallah, wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul mulk wa lahul hamd, wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadeer,’ his sins will be forgiven even if they are like the foam of the sea.” (Sahih Muslim, Hadith 597).

However, turning this into a group chant after each Salah is not found in the Sunnah. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) discouraged practices that deviate from authentic worship, stating, “Beware of newly introduced matters, for every newly introduced matter is an innovation, and every innovation is misguidance.” (Sunan Abu Dawood, Hadith 4607).

And Allah Knows Best