❖ Source: Fatawa of the Scholars of Hadith, Kitab al-Salah, Volume 1, Pages 225–226
A caretaker who seeks to stop him out of personal enmity falls under the purview of the following verse:
"وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن مَّنَعَ مَسَاجِدَ اللَّـهِ أَن يُذْكَرَ فِيهَا اسْمُهُ وَسَعَىٰ فِي خَرَابِهَا"
(Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayah 114)
Translation: "And who is more unjust than one who forbids that in places for the worship of Allah, His Name should be celebrated?—whose zeal is (in fact) to ruin them?"
Imam Shawkani, in his Tafsir Fath al-Qadeer, explains that this refers to one who prevents people from praying in mosques, reciting the Qur'an, or engaging in the remembrance of Allah. Such a person is considered extremely unjust.
Therefore, the caretaker has no Shar‘i right to stop Zaid from leading Tarawih. If he does so forcibly, he will be deemed unjust according to this verse and may be held accountable by Allah.
◄ A caretaker acting on personal grudges falls under the Qur’anic definition of a wrongdoer.
◄ Preventing Zaid from leading the prayer is religiously impermissible.
◄ Maulana Abdul Salam Bastawi, Tarjuman Delhi, 6th Muharram al-Haram 1380 AH
❖ Question:
Zaid has been reciting the Qur'an in Tarawih prayer at a mosque for the past six years, and the worshippers are pleased with him. He is observant in prayer and fasting, a qualified Qari, and of righteous character. However, due to personal resentment, one of the mosque’s caretakers wants to prevent Zaid from leading the Tarawih prayer this year. Does the caretaker have the right to do so according to Islamic law? If he forcibly stops Zaid, will he be held accountable by Allah?❖ Answer:
Zaid, who is committed to Salah and fasting, a Hafiz of the Qur'an, a Qari, and a person of piety, has been leading Tarawih for several years without any objection from the congregation, and the worshippers are content with him. In such a case, he is religiously entitled to lead the Tarawih prayer.A caretaker who seeks to stop him out of personal enmity falls under the purview of the following verse:
"وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن مَّنَعَ مَسَاجِدَ اللَّـهِ أَن يُذْكَرَ فِيهَا اسْمُهُ وَسَعَىٰ فِي خَرَابِهَا"
(Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayah 114)
Translation: "And who is more unjust than one who forbids that in places for the worship of Allah, His Name should be celebrated?—whose zeal is (in fact) to ruin them?"
Imam Shawkani, in his Tafsir Fath al-Qadeer, explains that this refers to one who prevents people from praying in mosques, reciting the Qur'an, or engaging in the remembrance of Allah. Such a person is considered extremely unjust.
Therefore, the caretaker has no Shar‘i right to stop Zaid from leading Tarawih. If he does so forcibly, he will be deemed unjust according to this verse and may be held accountable by Allah.
❖ Summary:
◄ There is no Shar‘i justification for preventing Zaid from leading Tarawih, especially given his piety and qualifications.◄ A caretaker acting on personal grudges falls under the Qur’anic definition of a wrongdoer.
◄ Preventing Zaid from leading the prayer is religiously impermissible.
❖ References:
◄ Tafsir Fath al-Qadeer◄ Maulana Abdul Salam Bastawi, Tarjuman Delhi, 6th Muharram al-Haram 1380 AH
