Question
How is it to perform qiyam-ul-lail in congregation? Here by us at about 10 p.m., the moulana with the mu'takifeen converge for khatme-khwajgaan, salaat and salaam, then perform their qiyamul lail. When it is pointed out to them that it is Makrooh to congregate for Nafl ibaadah, They contend that it is not advertised. Is not their congregating an informal, if not formal- invitation? (Most certainly, their nightly performance of Nafl Salaat in jamaat attended by a drove of persons is conspicuous advertising. – The Majlis) Thereafter, as is in vogue nowadays they gather over another meal apart from the food they first congregated over at iftaar time, delaying the Maghrib salaat by 7 minutes, and apart from the meals they have after taraweeh -- all in the Masjid. Spearheaded by an Aalim. It seems as if ibaadat has become a prelude and excuse - an opportunity to have some more food and another meal. So together with sehri we find people having 4 meals instead of their mandatory 3 meals out of the Mubarak month of Ramadhaan. It somehow seems we are bent on following the path of the Bid'atees. In the same said Masjid, a haafiz with a western beard has been appointed to perform taraweeh despite the presence of qualified Ulama and Huffaaz with Shar'i beards who are not given the opportunity. Is this not tantamount to encouraging neglect of the Sunnah? The imams meanwhile are silent over all this. It is very sad and lamentable that our Masaajid are being reduced to somewhat of a circus, picnic and place of entertainment! Allah have mercy on us, Aameen. What has happened to peace and quiet in the Masjid, ikhlaas, humility and simplicity taught by Islam?
Answer
These gluttonous elements vreet (devour) food like the kuffaar or like animals. About the gluttony of the food-devouring habit of the kuffaar, the Qur'aan Majeed says: "And the kuffaar enjoy (themselves) and devour (food) just as animals eat, and (ultimately) the Fire is their abode." Describing the gluttony of the kuffaar, Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said that while the kaafir eats with "seven intestines", the Mu'min eats with "one intestine".
It is this excessive gluttony – eating like animals – which deranges the brains of human beings. Then they behave like animals, subservient to the command and demand of their bestial instincts. Describing this mental derangement and fossilization of the intelligence rendering people more astray than even animals, the Qur'aan Majeed states:
"Verily, We have created for Jahannam numerous from among the jinn and human beings. They have such hearts (minds) with which they cannot understand; such eyes with which they cannot see, and such ears with which they cannot hear. They are like animals, in fact, they are more astray (than even animals). They are the ones who are ghaafiloon (oblivious of reality).
Qiyaamul Lail (Tahajjud Salaat) in jamaat is bid'ah. It is not permissible for Hanafis to perform any Nafl Salaat in jamaat. The practice of khatm-e-khwajgaan in the Musjid in the manner in which it is being upheld, is also bid'ah, hence not permissible. The four meals are despicable. These people devour like kuffaar and animals, hence their Aql has become inoperative. They eat like animals, but their thinking level is sub-animal. They have converted the Musaajid into venues for merrymaking. They are all charlatans and clowns, hence their circus performances in the name of 'deen'.
- Source
- themajlis.co.za
- Published in
- The Majlis Vol 22 No 10
- PDF page
- 2
Appears under Questions and Answers (approximate).