Ruling on Lengthy Recitation in Salah and Imam's Responsibility to Show Consideration
Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
What is the Islamic ruling regarding an imam who recites very long passages during prayer, and continues to do so despite the complaints of the followers (muqtadīs)?
In congregational prayer, the imam must maintain moderation and shorten the recitation, as there are followers who may be sick, weak, or have pressing needs.
If someone insists on prolonging the recitation despite the requests of the followers, then he should reflect upon the following ḥadīth:
❀ Sayyidunā Jābir bin ʿAbdullāh رضي الله عنهما narrates:
Muʿādh ibn Jabal رضي الله عنه used to offer the night prayer ('Ishā') with the Prophet ﷺ and then return to lead his own people in prayer. One night, after praying with the Prophet ﷺ, he came to lead his people and began reciting Sūrat al-Baqarah. One man broke away from the congregation, completed his prayer alone, and left. Some people said to him, “Have you become a hypocrite, O so-and-so?”
He replied, “By Allah! I have not, but I will certainly report this matter to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.”
He then went to the Prophet ﷺ and said, “O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! We spend the whole day laboring to irrigate our fields with camels. Muʿādh led the 'Ishā' prayer after praying with you and began reciting Sūrat al-Baqarah.”
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ turned to Muʿādh and said:
يَا مُعَاذُ! أَفَتَّانٌ أَنْتَ؟ اقْرَأْ بِكَذَا، وَاقْرَأْ بِكَذَا
“O Muʿādh! Are you a cause of trial (for the people)? Recite such-and-such Sūrahs instead.”
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 700
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 465 (wording from Muslim)
✔ An imam must consider the condition of the congregation, especially in obligatory prayers.
✔ Lengthy recitation that causes hardship may lead people to dislike or avoid prayer, which is a serious matter.
✔ The Prophet ﷺ himself instructed reciting shorter Sūrahs in congregational prayers to avoid burdening the followers.
Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
❖ Question:
What is the Islamic ruling regarding an imam who recites very long passages during prayer, and continues to do so despite the complaints of the followers (muqtadīs)?
❖ Answer:
In congregational prayer, the imam must maintain moderation and shorten the recitation, as there are followers who may be sick, weak, or have pressing needs.
If someone insists on prolonging the recitation despite the requests of the followers, then he should reflect upon the following ḥadīth:
❖ Ḥadīth Evidence:
❀ Sayyidunā Jābir bin ʿAbdullāh رضي الله عنهما narrates:
Muʿādh ibn Jabal رضي الله عنه used to offer the night prayer ('Ishā') with the Prophet ﷺ and then return to lead his own people in prayer. One night, after praying with the Prophet ﷺ, he came to lead his people and began reciting Sūrat al-Baqarah. One man broke away from the congregation, completed his prayer alone, and left. Some people said to him, “Have you become a hypocrite, O so-and-so?”
He replied, “By Allah! I have not, but I will certainly report this matter to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.”
He then went to the Prophet ﷺ and said, “O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! We spend the whole day laboring to irrigate our fields with camels. Muʿādh led the 'Ishā' prayer after praying with you and began reciting Sūrat al-Baqarah.”
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ turned to Muʿādh and said:
يَا مُعَاذُ! أَفَتَّانٌ أَنْتَ؟ اقْرَأْ بِكَذَا، وَاقْرَأْ بِكَذَا
“O Muʿādh! Are you a cause of trial (for the people)? Recite such-and-such Sūrahs instead.”
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 700 Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 465 (wording from Muslim)❖ Key Lessons:
✔ An imam must consider the condition of the congregation, especially in obligatory prayers.
✔ Lengthy recitation that causes hardship may lead people to dislike or avoid prayer, which is a serious matter.
✔ The Prophet ﷺ himself instructed reciting shorter Sūrahs in congregational prayers to avoid burdening the followers.
