Nafl Salah with Jama'ah

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I understand that according to the majority Hanafi opinion, there is no nafl salah with Jama'ah. Well, only under some strict circumstances (cannot exceed 3 persons, etc.). But what about the other 3 schools of thought? Do anyone of them allow Nafl Salah with Jama'ah?

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Question: Asalamualykum Respected Sheikh What proof is there for performing Qiyam Al Layl in congregation during the last ten nights of Ramadhaan, as is done in the 2 Holy Mosques. Is this not a innovation as there is no prophetic tradition regarding this act? Shukran


Answered by:
Sheikh `Abd al-Rahmân al-Barâk

All praise is due to Allah.

Allah (says: “Ye have indeed an excellent example for him who puts his hopes in Allah and the Last Day and who remembers Allah much” and our Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “And the best guidance is the one brought by Muhammad (peace be upon him).” Our religion is based on the dictates stated by Allah. Any religious practice not specifically sanctioned by Allah in His book or in the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him) is but an innovation. Allah says: “What! Have they partners (in godhead) who have established for them some religion without the permission of Allah?”

It is well known that Allah commands us to pray our obligatory prayers together in congregation even at the time of fear. Allah says: “When you (O Messenger) are with them and stand to lead them in prayer, let one party of them stand up (in prayer) with you”. The Prophet (peace be upon him) encouraged us to pray in congregation. He said: “The congregational prayer is twenty five times better in reward than the individual’s prayer.” In another hadîth he said twenty seven times.

However, he did not command to perform our voluntary prayers in congregation except certain prayers during the month of Ramadan. He prayed these prayers for a few days in congregation in Ramadan and then stopped doing so in order to avoid it seeming obligatory to the Muslims. People used to pray in Ramadan in small groups, then Caliph `Umar gathered all these groups together to pray with one imam only, as was the case when the Prophet (peace be upon him) led the prayer. Therefore, congregational prayer in Ramadan is something lawful because it was constituted by the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the rightly guided Caliphs. This is the prayer that is called “Tarâwîh”.

In general the congregation prayer is permissible in the prayer for seeking rain, the eclipse prayer (both solar and lunar) and the two Îd prayers.

It is permissible during the night prayer that two or three people pray together occasionally, but not always. The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to pray alone at night, but sometimes, some the Companions joined him in prayers such as Ibn `Abbâs, Hudhayfah b. al-Yamân, and Ibn Mas`ûd. Therefore, congregation in voluntary prayer is permissible sometimes to a limited extent.

And Allah knows best, and may peace and blessing be upon our Prophet Muhammad.

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Clarification:

Please note that the night prayer (qiyâm al-layl) is more general than either Tarâwîh or Tahajjud. It is called Tarâwîh when it occurs in Ramadân and is customarily performed at its earlier time and in congregation. Its performance can be continued to late or resumed and completed later on at night after the break.

Fatwâ Department Research Committee of IslamToday chaired by Sheikh `Abd al-Wahhâb al-Turayrî