Many people think that collective dua after fard namaz is part of sunnah but the reality is making congregational dua after fard prayer is not sunnah and there is no evidence for making collective dua after namaz, said Mufti Zain Ul Islam Qasmi.
Though on special events collective dua can be made but the common practice among Muslims is not according to Sunnah. Many people believe that it’s mandatory to make dua long with the imam, but it is not true, he added. There is evidence from Sunnah for making dua after Fard prayer but that was not collective.
Following the imam is for namaz only and it starts with namaz and it ends after the prayer, so it is not mandatory to start dua with him, nor it is necessary to end the dua with him. Rather different people have different needs, and each individual has a different style of making supplication from Allah.