The Imam Supplicates After the Prayer and the Followers say Amin

Question :

In some areas, we see that the Imam raises his hands and supplicates after the obligatory prayers, while the followers answer "Ameen." Please prove or disprove this practice with its evidence.

Answer:

All worship is based on conformity, so it is not permitted to say that this form of worship is legislated from the view of its basis, its number, or time or place except with a legislative evidence that proves that, and we do not know of such proof from the Prophet-neither in saying, action, nor approval, and all good is in following his guidance. In this case his guidance is proven with evidences about what he did after the Salaam (in prayer), and what his Rightly Guided Khalifahs and Companions adhered to, as well as those after them and those after them who followed them faithfully.

And whoever innovates a new matter that is against guidance of the Prophet, his deed is rejected. The Messenger of Allâh said :
"Whoever does a deed that is not in accordance with our matter, then it is rejected."

So it is upon the Imam who supplicates in this manner, his followers who say "Amin" to his supplication, and all of those who raise their hands to bring forward their proofs. If they are not able to do so and surely they are not able to do so- their practice is rejected.

Putting that aside, we can now go on to explain what the Prophet would do after he made his final Salam, which signals the end of the prayer. He would ask Allâh for forgiveness three times. And he would say,
"O Allah, You are As-Salaam (The One Who is free from all defects and deficiencies), and from You is all peace, blessed are You, O Possessor of majesty and honor."

Al-Awza'i was asked how the Istaghfar (seeking forgiveness) is to be done, so he answered one says, "Astaghfirullah, Astaghfirullah." This is how it was recorded by Muslim, At-Tirmithi, and An- Nasa'i, except with An-Nasa'i it is, "When Allah's Messenger turned from his prayer." And he mentioned the Hadith. And in the narration of Abu Dawud it says that when Allah's Messenger ﷺ wanted to turn from his prayer he would seek Allâh's forgiveness three times then say,
"O Allah! You are As-Salaam."

In the narration of 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, recorded by Abu Dawud and An-Nasa'i she said that when Allah's Messenger ﷺ said the Salaam he would (then) say:
"O Allah! You are As-Salaam, from You is all peace, blessed are You, O Possessor of majesty and honor."

In a narration recorded by Muslim from Waraad the freed slave of Al-Mughirah bin Shu'bah, he said, "Al-Mughirah bin Shu'bah dictated a letter to Mu'awiyyah saying that at the end of every obligatory prayer the Prophet would say:
"None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, alone, without partner, to Him belongs all sovereignty and praise and He is over all things omnipotent. O Allah, none can prevent what You have willed to hestow and none can bestow what You have willed to prevent, and no wealth or majesty can benefit anyone, as from You is all wealth and majesty."

And in another narration also recorded by Muslim, via 'Abdullah bin Zubair, it says that he would say after every prayer when he said the Salaam:
"None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, alone, without partner, to Him belongs all sovereignty and praise and He has power over all things. There is neither might nor strength except with Allah, none has the right to be worshipped except Allah and we worship none except Him. For Him are all favor, grace, and glorious praise. None has the right to be worshipped except Allah and all religion is His although the disbelievers detest it.

And he said, "Allah's Messenger would mention Allah's divinity with these at the end of every prayer."

In another narration recorded by Muslim as well: "Allah's Messenger ﷺ would say:
"Whoever says "Subhanallah" (How perfect Allah is!) after every prayer thirty-three times, "Al-Hamdulillah" (all praise belongs to Allah) thirty-three times, "Allahu akbar" (Allah is the greatest) thirty-three times, and then completes one-hundred by saying: None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, alone, without partner, to Him belongs all sovereignty and praise and He has power over all things" - Allah will forgive him his sins, even if they were like the foam of the ocean."

Whoever wishes to learn supplications, then he should refer to the sections on supplications in books like Jami' Al-Usul, Majma' Az-Zawaa'id, Al-Mataalih Al-'Aliyah bi Zawaa'id Al-Musaanid, and other similar books.

And may the peace and blessings of Allah Almighty be upon Muhammad, and upon his Companions.