GROUP IFTAAR DUA
CONGREGATIONAL IFTAAR DUA
The latest bid`ah practice that has become vogue in our Musaajid nowadays is the congregational dua at the time of Iftaar – just before Maghrib Athaan, during the Month of Ramadhaan. True, the dua during these auspicious moments are readily accepted by Allaah Ta'ala. But, the Shariah has NOT prescribed a congregational dua. In fact, congregational duas at this time are unreservedly classified as a dark Bid`ah!
CONGREGATIONAL DUA
Rasulullaah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said: “Dua is the core of all Ibaadat.”
Allaah Ta'ala declares in the Qur`aan Majeed: “Call unto your Rabb with humility and softly.”
Dua is an essential part of every Mu`min’s life. Dua is the one thing that can actually alter Fate (Taqdeer). The Ahaadith Shareef is replete with exhortations and encouragements for us to make dua unto Allaah Ta'ala.
Allaah Ta`ala loves us to make dua and beg of Him. Allaah Rabbul Izzat detests the person who does not ask of Him.
However, just like every facet of our beautiful Deen, dua also has some requirements and etiquettes.
Amongst the etiquettes of dua is that it be made with humility, softly and in seclusion. Dua is a private conversation between the servant and The Master. We are aware that when a Mu`min makes dua for his fellow Muslim, Allaah Ta'ala readily accepts it. One of the reasons being that it is the silent and secretive supplication made to Allaah Ta'ala which is only known to Allaah Ta'ala and no one else. There should be no show when making dua. Allaah Ta'ala Himself commands that we make dua softly and with humility.
FATAAWA MAHMOODIYYA
The following appears in Fataawa Mahmoodiyya, vol. 17 page 146:
“CONGREGATIONAL DUA AT THE TIME OF IFTAAR IS NOT ESTABLISHED”
Question: Some people, during the blessed month of Ramadhaan gather to one side of the Musjid just before Iftaar, where one of the fasting persons makes a dua, to which others say ‘Aameen’. Was this practice in vogue during the era of Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi was sallam) and his Sahaabah (Radiallahu anhum)? Or was it practised by any of the pious persons thereafter?
Answer: This method (and occasion) of making a congregational dua is not established from Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi was sallam), his Sahaabah (Radiallahu anhum) or any of the Fuqahaa-e-Mujtahiddeen.”
It is also stated in Fataawa Mahmoodiyya, vol. 16, page 375:
“This method where the Imaam recites Durood in an audible tone and slowly, and then everyone recites Durood Shareef loudly, has not been established from Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi was sallam) or his Sahaabah (Radiallahu anhum). Neither is this prescribed in the Qur`aan Majeed, nor Hadith Shareef nor any of the Kitaabs of Fiqh. Therefore this method has to be abandoned and the Sunnat practice be followed and adhered to.”
WHAT IS BID`AH?
Bid`ah has become so rife in our society nowadays that people, including the Ulama have become desensitized to it. The Ulama have become the followers of the masses and do whatever they think will satisfy the ignorance of the people, without realising that many of their acts are contrary to the Sunnat and opening the doors to Bid`ah and deviation.
Moulana Yusuf Ludhianwi (Rahmatullah alayh) wrote: “Amongst the reasons why Bid`ah is such a detestable deed is that when a person carries out an act of sin, then he realises that he is doing something wrong, and he may repent and feel ashamed. On the contrary, when he commits an act of Bid`ah then he deems it a meritorious deed (hence will not repent or feel ashamed).”
The respected Moulana Saheb (Rahmatullah alayh), in explaining the difference between Sunnat and Bid`ah, writes:
“Bid`ah is to understand something to be part of Deen which was not practiced by the Salaf-e-Saaliheen…It is Bid`ah to stipulate conditions for those things which the Shariah has left general…It is Bid`ah to perform those Ibaadaat in a congregational form which the Shariah has specified to be individually performed.”
Based on the above brief descriptions of what our Shariah classifies as a Bid`ah, it is as clear as daylight that the practice of offering congregational dua at the time of Iftaar during the month of Ramadhaan (or out), is a Bid`ah.
Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi was sallam) warned us: “Every innovation (in the Deen) is deviation.” And he further said: “Every deviation is in the Fire of Jahannum.”
Why spoil the entire day’s fast by perpetrating a dark Bid`ah right at the end. Instead of inviting the Mercy, Forgiveness, and Acceptance of Allaah Ta'ala we incur His Anger and Wrath by trotting the path of deviation.
Let us take maximum benefit of this month, by adhering to the Sunnat practices and ensure acceptance of our valuable duas at the time of Iftaar by supplicating to Allaah Rabbul Izzat with humility, softly, individually and privately.
May Allaah Ta'ala grant us all the Taufeeq to accept and recognise the Haqq and follow the Sunnat.
