This excerpt is taken from Kitab al-Sawm, compiled by Sheikh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amanpuri, may Allah preserve him.
Question:
How is it to lead the congregation of Witr prayers outside of Ramadan?
Answer:
Occasionally leading the congregation of Witr prayers outside Ramadan is permissible.
❀ Sayyiduna Masur bin Mukharramah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates:
"On the night Sayyiduna Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, was buried, Sayyiduna Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, stood up for prayer saying, 'I have Witr.' We formed rows behind him, he led us in three rak'ahs and gave the salam in the last rak'ah."
Reference: (Sharh Ma'ani al-Athar by al-Tahawi: 1/293, and its chain is Hasan)
❀ Allama Aini Hanafi, may Allah have mercy on him, states:
"The chain is at the highest level of authenticity, the narrators are those of Sahih al-Bukhari."
Reference: (Nukhb al-Afkar fi Tanqih Mabani al-Akhbar fi Sharh Ma'ani al-Athar: 5/105)
Question:
How is it to lead the congregation of Tahajjud or other Nawafil prayers?
Answer:
With certain conditions and restrictions, congregational voluntary prayers are permissible, and numerous ahadith indicate this.
❀ Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him
Reference: (728 AH)
, says:"The prayer for which maintaining a congregation regularly is not prescribed, it is disliked to consistently insist on praying it in congregation. However, if someone does not make it a compulsory Sunnah or there is a valid reason, for example, if a person cannot pray well alone or is lazy to pray alone, then in such a case, praying in congregation is better, but it should not become a permanent habit. Nevertheless, if there is no stronger reason, it is preferable to pray voluntary prayers at home."
Reference: (Fatawa al-Misriyya, p. 81)
Question:
How is it to pray eight rak'ahs of Tahajjud with one salam?
Answer:
Praying eight rak'ahs with one salam is not permissible. Tahajjud or Taraweeh are eight rak'ahs Sunnah, but salam should be given after every two rak'ahs.
Question:
What is the minimum duration for completing the Quran?
Answer:
It is recommended and preferable to complete the recitation of the Holy Quran in three days or more. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, encouraged this. Consider the following evidences:
❀ Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr, may Allah be pleased with them both, narrates that he had the following conversation with the Noble Prophet, peace be upon him. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said:
صم من الشهر ثلاثة أيام قال إني أطيق أكثر من ذلك قال فما زال حتى قال صم يوما وأفطر يوما وقال اقرأ القرآن في شهر فقلت إني أطيق أكثر من ذلك حتى قال اقرأ القرآن في ثلاث
“Fast only three days in a month.” He said: I have the strength to fast more than that and kept saying (that he had the strength to fast more), so the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: Fast one day and break the fast the next day. Then the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: Complete the recitation of the Quran in one month. He said: I have the strength to do more than that (and kept saying so), until the Noble Prophet, peace be upon him, said: Complete it in three days.”
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari: 1978)
❀ Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr, may Allah be pleased with them both, narrates that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
لم يفقه من قرأ القرآن في أقل من ثلاث
“Whoever completes the recitation of the Quran in less than three days has not understood the Quran.”
Reference: (Sunan Abi Dawood: 1394, Sunan al-Tirmidhi: 2949, Sunan Ibn Majah: 1347, Fada'il al-Quran by al-Nasa'i: 92, and its chain is authentic)
❀ Imam Tirmidhi, may Allah have mercy on him, graded this hadith as Hasan Sahih.
Abdullah bin Amr, may Allah be pleased with them both, narrates that the Prophet, peace be upon him, commanded him to complete the Quran in forty (40) days, then he said: in one month, then he said: in twenty (20) days, then he said: in fifteen (15) days, then he said: in ten (10) days, then he said: in seven (7) days, and he stopped at seven (7) days.
Reference: (Fada'il al-Quran by al-Nasa'i: 94, Mukhtasar Qiyam al-Layl by al-Marwazi, p. 66, and its chain is authentic)
❀ Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr bin As, may Allah be pleased with them both, narrates that he had the following conversation with the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said:
اقرأ القرآن في شهر قلت إني أجد قوة حتى قال فاقرأه في سبع ولا تزد على ذلك
“Complete the Quran in one month. I said: I have the strength to complete it in less time. He said... then complete it in seven days, do not complete it in less than that.”
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari: 5054, Sahih Muslim: 1159)
❀ Sayyida Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, says:
لا أعلم نبي الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قرأ القرآن كله في ليلة
“I do not know that the Noble Prophet, peace be upon him, ever completed the Quran in one night.”
Reference: (Sahih Muslim: 139/746)
❀ Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas’ud, may Allah be pleased with him, says:
اقرؤوا القرآن في كل سبع
“Complete the recitation of the Quran every week.”
Reference: (Fada'il al-Quran by al-Firyabi: 131, and its chain is authentic)
❀ The son of Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas’ud, may Allah have mercy on him, narrates:
إن أباه كان يختم في رمضان في ثلاث وفي غير رمضان من الجمعة للجمعة
“My respected father used to complete the Quran in three days during Ramadan, and on other days he used to complete the Quran from one Friday to the next Friday.”
Reference: (Fada'il al-Quran by al-Firyabi: 132, and its chain is authentic)
From the above hadiths, it is understood that the Noble Prophet, peace be upon him, did not complete the Quran in one night, and he also instructed to complete it in seven days or at least three days. Therefore, it is better to complete the Quran in three days or more.
Completion in Less Than Three Days and the Ancestors of the Ummah
However, these Prophetic teachings do not prove that completing the Quran in less than three days is not permissible, because the understanding and practice of the predecessors of the Ummah indicate otherwise. The details are as follows:
❀ Abu Jamrah Nasr bin Imran Basri, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
"I am a person who recites quickly, and sometimes I complete the Quran once or twice in one night. Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, said: If I recite one Surah, it pleases me more than your style. However, if you insist on doing so, then recite in such a manner that your ears hear it and your heart understands it."
Reference: (Al-Sunan al-Kubra by Al-Bayhaqi: 2/396, and its chain is Hasan)
❀ Regarding Saeed bin Jubair, may Allah have mercy on him:
إنه كان يختم القرآن في كل ليلتين
"He, may Allah have mercy on him, used to complete the Quran in two nights."
Reference: (Tabaqat Ibn Saad: 2/270, Sunan al-Darimi: 3528, Hilyat al-Awliya by Abu Nu'aym al-Isbahani: 4/273, and its chain is Sahih)
❀ Regarding Qatadah bin Du'ama, may Allah have mercy on him:
إنه كان يختم القرآن في كل سبع ليال مرة فإذا جاء رمضان ختم في كل ثلاث ليال مرة فإذا جاء العشر ختم في كل ليلة مرة
"He, may Allah have mercy on him, used to complete the Quran once in seven nights. However, when Ramadan came, he would complete the Quran once in three nights, and when the last ten days of Ramadan began, he would complete it every night."
Reference: (Hilyat al-Awliya by Abu Nu'aym al-Isbahani: 2/339, and its chain is Sahih)
❀ Regarding Alqamah bin Qais Nakha'i, may Allah have mercy on him:
إن علقمة كان يقرأ في خمس قال وقرأه في مكة في ليلة
"Alqamah, may Allah have mercy on him, used to recite the Quran in five days, but in Makkah Mukarramah, he recited the Quran in one night."
Reference: (Fada'il al-Quran by Al-Firyabi: 139, and its chain is Sahih, Fada'il al-Quran by Abu Ubaid, p. 182, Al-Thiqat by Ibn Hibban: 5/208, and its chain is Sahih)
❀ Regarding Aswad bin Yazid, may Allah have mercy on him:
كان الأسود يقرأ القرآن في شهر رمضان في ليلتين ويختمه في سوى رمضان في ستة
"Aswad bin Yazid, may Allah have mercy on him, used to recite the entire Quran in two nights during Ramadan, while in normal circumstances, he would complete it in six days."
Reference: (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 2/500, Al-Thiqat by Ibn Hibban: 4/31, Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra by Ibn Saad: 6/136, and its chain is Sahih)
❀ Regarding Ali Azdi, may Allah have mercy on him:
كان يختم القرآن في رمضان كل ليلة
"He, may Allah have mercy on him, used to recite the entire Quran every night during Ramadan."
Reference: (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 2/500, Al-Thiqat by Ibn Hibban: 5/164-165, and its chain is Hasan)
❀ Imam Shu'bah bin Hajjaj Qushayri, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
كان سعد بن إبراهيم بن عبد الرحمن يختم القرآن في كل يوم وليلة
"Sa'd bin Ibrahim bin Abdul Rahman, may Allah have mercy on him, used to recite the entire Quran once every day and night."
Reference: (Tabaqat Ibn Saad: 5/364, Tarikh Ibn Asakir: 20/213, and its chain is Sahih)
❀ Regarding Muhammad bin Khalid Khazzaz, may Allah have mercy on him:
كان يختم القرآن في يوم وليلة
"He, may Allah have mercy on him, used to complete the Quran in one day and night."
Reference: (Al-Jarh wa al-Ta'dil by Ibn Abi Hatim: 7/245)
❀ Imam Ali bin Madini, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
كان عبد الرحمن بن مهدي يختم في كل ليلتين كان ورده في كل ليلة نصف القرآن
"Abdul Rahman bin Mahdi, may Allah have mercy on him, used to complete the Quran in two nights. He used to recite half the Quran in one night."
Reference: (Tarikh Baghdad by Al-Khatib: 10/247, and its chain is Sahih)
❀ Regarding Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Abu Awn, may Allah have mercy on him:
كان يختم القرآن في كل يوم وليلة مرتين
"He, may Allah have mercy on him, used to complete the Quran twice every day and night."
Reference: (Sahih Ibn Hibban: 4622)
❀ Hafiz Nawawi, may Allah have mercy on him
Reference: (676 AH)
, says:"In this matter, the strongest opinion is that the duration for completing the Quran varies for different people. A person who has understanding and deep contemplation should recite such an amount that does not disrupt the purpose of reflection and extracting meanings. Similarly, a person who is busy with scholarly activities or other religious duties and the reform of common Muslims should recite such an amount that does not interfere with his other affairs. However, a person who is not engaged in such activities should preferably recite the Quran abundantly without fatigue as much as possible, and should not recite hastily. And Allah knows best!"
Reference: (Al-Tibyan fi Adab Hamalat al-Quran p. 61, Fath al-Bari by Ibn Hajar: 9/97, Tafsir Ibn Kathir: 81, 82/1)
❀ Allama Muhammad Abdul Rahman Mubarakpuri, may Allah have mercy on him
Reference: (1353 AH)
, says:لو تتبعت تراجم أئمة الحديث لوجدت كثيرا منهم أنهم كانوا يقرءون القرآن في أقل من ثلاث فالظاهر أن هؤلاء الأعلام لم يحملوا النهي عن قراءة القرآن في أقل من ثلاث على التحريم
"If you browse through the biographies of the Imams of Hadith, you will find many such Imams who used to complete the Quranic recitation in less than three days. This clearly shows that these great Muhaddithin did not consider the prohibition of completing the Quran in less than three days as a strict prohibition."
Reference: (Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi: 4/63)
But whatever the manner of completion, the etiquettes of recitation should be observed.
❀ Imam Tirmidhi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
الترتيل في القراءة أحب إلى أهل العلم
"Among recitations, Tartil (measured, clear recitation) is more beloved among the people of knowledge."
Reference: (Sunan al-Tirmidhi, under the hadith: 2946)
Question:
How is it to pray Taraweeh prayers throughout the entire month of Ramadan?
Answer:
Taraweeh prayer is lawful and recommended; during Ramadan, Qiyam al-Layl can be performed in congregation or individually, both ways are permissible. Also, it is recommended to pray Taraweeh throughout the entire month.
❀ Abdul Rahman bin Abdul Qari, may Allah have mercy on him, narrates:
خرجت مع عمر بن الخطاب رضي الله عنه ليلة في رمضان إلى المسجد فإذا الناس أوزاع متفرقون يصلي الرجل لنفسه ويصلي الرجل فيصلي بصلاته الرهط فقال عمر إني أرى لو جمعت هؤلاء على قارئ واحد لكان أمثل ثم عزم فجمعهم على أبي بن كعب ثم خرجت معه ليلة أخرى والناس يصلون بصلاة قارئهم قال عمر نعم البدعة هذه والتي ينامون عنها أفضل من التي يقومون يريد آخر الليل وكان الناس يقومون أوله
"One night in Ramadan, I went out towards the mosque with Sayyiduna Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him. People were divided into different groups. Some were praying alone, and some were praying in congregation. Sayyiduna Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said: In my opinion, it would be better to gather them behind one reciter. He, may Allah be pleased with him, made a firm resolve and gathered the people behind Sayyiduna Abi bin Ka'b, may Allah be pleased with him, to lead the prayer. One night, I went out with him again. People were praying behind one reciter, so Sayyiduna Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said: What a good renewal this is! However, those who sleep at this time and pray in the last part of the night are better than them."
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari: 2010)
Sayyiduna Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, reintroduced the congregational Taraweeh prayer for the entire month because the reason and concern that led the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, not to pray Taraweeh in congregation for the whole month had now been removed.
❀ Sayyida Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, narrates:
إن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم صلى في المسجد ذات ليلة فصلى بصلاته ناس ثم صلى من القابلة فكثر الناس ثم اجتمعوا من الليلة الثالثة أو الرابعة فلم يخرج إليهم رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فلما أصبح قال قد رأيت الذي صنعتم فلم يمنعني من الخروج إليكم إلا أني خشيت أن تفرض عليكم قال وذلك في رمضان
"The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, prayed in the mosque one night in Ramadan, and people prayed behind him. The next night, he led the prayer again, and the number of worshippers increased. Then people gathered on the third or fourth night as well, but he did not come out to lead the prayer. When morning came, he said: I saw your eagerness for worship, but I did not come out because I feared that this prayer might become obligatory upon you." The narrator says: This incident happened in Ramadan.
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari: 1129, Sahih Muslim: 177/761, and the wording is his)
❀ Sayyida Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, narrates:
خرج رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم في الليلة الثانية فصلوا بصلاته فأصبح الناس يذكرون ذلك فكثر أهل المسجد من الليلة الثالثة فخرج فصلوا بصلاته فلما كانت الليلة الرابعة عجز المسجد عن أهله فلم يخرج إليهم رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فطفق رجال منهم يقولون الصلاة فلم يخرج إليهم رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم حتى خرج لصلاة الفجر
"The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, came out on the second night, and the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, prayed with him. People began to talk about it. On the third night, the number of worshippers in the mosque increased. He came out, and people prayed with him. On the fourth night, the mosque became crowded, but he did not come out. Those present in the mosque said: (Taraweeh prayer)! But the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, came out only at the time of Fajr prayer."
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari: 2012, Sahih Muslim: 178/761)
❀ In another narration, it is stated:
خشيت أن تفرض عليكم صلاة الليل فتعجزوا عنها
"I feared that Qiyam al-Layl might become obligatory and that you might be unable to perform it."
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari: 924, Sahih Muslim: 178/761)
❀ Hafiz Ibn Abdul Barr, may Allah have mercy on him
Reference: (463 AH)
, states:فيه أن قيام رمضان سنة من سنن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم مندوب إليها مرغوب فيها ولم يسن منها عمر بن الخطاب إذ أحياها إلا ما كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يحبه ويرضاه ولم يمنع من المواظبة عليه إلا خشية أن يفرض على أمته وكان بالمؤمنين رءوفا رحيما صلى الله عليه وسلم فلما علم ذلك عمر من رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وعلم أن الفرائض لا يزاد فيها ولا ينقص منها بعد موته عليه الصلاة والسلام أقامها للناس وأحياها وأمر بها وذلك سنة أربع عشرة من الهجرة وذلك شيء ادخره الله له وفضله به ولم يلهم إليه أبا بكر وإن كان أفضل من عمر وأشد سبقا إلى كل خير بالجملة ولكل واحد منهم فضائل خص بها ليست لصاحبه
"This hadith is evidence that Qiyam in Ramadan (Taraweeh) is the Sunnah of the Noble Prophet, peace be upon him, and it is also a recommended and commendable act. When Sayyiduna Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, arranged for the Taraweeh prayer to be performed throughout the month, he did so because the Prophet, peace be upon him, liked congregational Taraweeh prayer. The only thing that prevented its continuity was that the Prophet feared it might be made obligatory upon the Ummah, and the Prophet, peace be upon him, was very compassionate and kind towards the believers. Sayyiduna Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, understood this reason of the Prophet and also knew that after the death of the Prophet, peace be upon him, there can be no addition or subtraction in the obligatory duties. So he established the Taraweeh prayer for the people, renewed it, and ordered it to be maintained. This event took place in the year 14 AH. This is a virtue that Allah granted to Sayyiduna Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, and bestowed this distinction upon him. Allah did not inspire this idea to Sayyiduna Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, although Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, was superior to Sayyiduna Umar and generally excelled in every good deed, but every Companion has special virtues that others do not have."
Reference: (Al-Tamhid: 8/108)
❀ Also, in the explanation of a hadith, it is stated:
في هذا الحديث من الفقه فضل قيام رمضان وظاهره يبيح فيه الجماعة والانفراد لأن ذلك كله فعل خير وقد ندب الله إلى فعل الخير وفيه دليل على أن ما أمر به عمر وفعله من قيام رمضان قد كان سبق من رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فيه الترغيب والحض فصار ذلك من سننه صلى الله عليه وسلم
"This hadith contains jurisprudence that Qiyam in Ramadan is a virtuous act. From the apparent meaning of this hadith, the permissibility of performing Qiyam al-Layl both in congregation and individually is established because all these are good deeds, and Allah encourages good deeds. Also, this hadith is evidence that the order and practice of Sayyiduna Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, regarding Qiyam in Ramadan were already encouraged and praised by the Prophet, peace be upon him. Thus, praying Taraweeh in congregation throughout Ramadan is also the Sunnah of the Prophet, peace be upon him."
Reference: (Al-Tamhid: 7/105)
❀ Allama Shatibi, may Allah have mercy on him
Reference: (790 AH)
, states:إن قيام الإمام بالناس في المسجد في رمضان سنة عمل بها صاحب السنة رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وإنما تركها خوفا من الافتراض فلما انقضى زمن الوحي زالت العلة فعاد العمل بها إلى نصابه
"In the month of Ramadan, it is Sunnah for the Imam to lead the people in congregational Qiyam. The owner of the Sunnah, the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, practiced this and abandoned it only due to the fear of it becoming obligatory. But when the era of revelation ended and the reason was removed, this practice returned to its original state."
Reference: (Al-I'tisam: 1/375)
❀ Allama San'ani, may Allah have mercy on him
Reference: (1182 AH)
, states:قيام رمضان سنة بلا خلاف والجماعة في نافلته لا تنكر
"There is no disagreement about the Sunnah status of Qiyam in Ramadan, and there is no objection to congregational Qiyam al-Layl."
Reference: (Subul al-Salam: 1/345)
