Long recitation made by Imam and objection raised by Muqtadis

Darulifta Ahlesunnat

(Dawateislami)

Question

What do respected Islamic scholars say about the following issue: How is it for the Imam to make a long recitation of Surahs during Salah and how is it for the Muqtadis to object it?

بِسْمِ اللہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ

If the Imam is Muqeem [non traveller i.e resident defined by shari’ah] and the time for Salah is not short and, in the congregational Salah, there is no such person who is old, ill, weak or who has to do some necessary piece of work, so it is a Sunnah for the Imam to recite Tiwal-e-Mufasssal (any Surah from Surah Al-Hujurat to Surah Al-Burooj) during the Fard Salahs of Fajr and Zuhr. To recite Ausaat-e-Mufassal (any Surah from Surah Al-Burooj to Surah Al-Bayyinah) during the Fard Salahs of ‘Asr and ‘Isha and to recite Qisaar-e-Mufassal (any Surah from Surah Al-Bayyinah to Surah An-Naas) during the Fard Salah of Maghrib is Sunnah for the Imam in the above-mentioned situation. Alternatively, in addition to Surah Al-Fatihah, he may recite 40 to 50 Ayahs during the two Rak’aat of Fajr and Zuhr; 15 to 20 Ayahs during ‘Asr and ‘Isha and up to 10 Ayahs during Maghrib.

If any such person who is old or weak or ill or who has to do some necessary piece of work is present in the congregational Salah, so the Imam should care about them and reduce Qira`at. If the Imam makes Qira`at in any way other than it, so this is something bad and against Sunnah. If any old man or ill person or such an individual who has to do some necessary piece of work is present in the congregational Salah and he will be bothered by long Qira`at, so this is impermissible and Haraam.

Therefore, in the situation mentioned in the question, if the Imam makes Qira`at according to Sunnah, so the Muqtadis are not allowed to oppose him. And if he does not make Qira`at in the above-mentioned way but rather goes against it and recites other long Surahs, so he is at fault. The Muqtadis should explain the situation to him in a gentle and affectionate way instead of opposing him.

وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَرَسُوْلُہ اَعْلَم صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم

Answered by:Mufti Muhammad Hashim Khan Attari