Group prayer by the Imaam after obligatory prayers

14-9-2004 | IslamWeb

Question:

Is a group prayer by Imaam just after each Fardh prayer is permitted or it is done by Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, is any restriction to pray to Allaah, Oh Allaah, please forgive me.... 'Be haqi Muhammad, Sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam.

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

 

Congregational supplications after the obligatory prayer are an innovation into the religion. Neither the Prophet nor his companions nor our righteous predecessors used to do so. Ibn Taymiyyah said: 'The known narrations in Al-Bukhari and Muslim, and other books indicate that the Prophet used to make supplications at the last part of the prayer just before concluding by saying As-Salaam 'Alaykum and he used to order his companions to do so. There is absolutely no narration which indicates that the Prophet used to say supplications together with the people who prayed behind him after ending the prayer, neither in Fajr prayer, 'Asr prayer or any other prayer. Rather, it is confirmed that he used to turn towards his companions and mention Allaah and teach them the remembrance of Allaah after each prayer. Therefore, the supplication after the performance of each obligatory prayer is an invented matter, and the Prophet said: "Whoever introduces into this faith of ours (Islam) something which is not a part of it, it will be rejected.'' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

 It is also not permitted to implore Allaah by the virtue of the Prophet or his high rank. The companions did not use to do so and the Prophet did not teach them to implore Allaah with his virtue and high rank. There is absolutely no doubt that his status is great and of high standing but supplications are acts of worship. Acts of worship are conditional on the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of his Prophet and what Islamic jurisprudence indicates is permissible. In addition to this, imploring Allaah by virtue of the Prophet could lead to associating partners to Allaah.

Therefore, a Muslim should abide by the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Prophet and avoid innovations. The Prophet said: "Beware of newly invented matters, as every newly invented matter is an innovation, and every innovation is a deviation (misguidance)." [Abu Daawood, Ahmad and others]

Allaah knows best.