BID'AH OR (INNOVATION)

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Permalink Reply by DR.NORODIN A. KUIT on September 24, 2010 at 6:49am

Bida'ah or innovation in Islam is rejected, after the last sermon of the Holy Prophet in the summit of MT. Arafat and the last Revelation of Qur'an(Surah Maida: verse 3) no more no less are new commandment to come. Anything new or Bida'ah must be rejected and useless. Even congregational tarawi is questionable in some islamic scholars. Because only the time of Omar had this practiced started. Please see this Hadith: "Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, "Whoever prayed at night the whole month of Ramadan out of sincere Faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven." Ibn Shihab (a sub-narrator) said, "Allah's Apostle died and the people continued observing that (i.e. Nawafil offered individually, not in congregation), and it remained as it was during the Caliphate of Abu Bakr and in the early days of 'Umar's Caliphate." 'Abdur Rahman bin 'Abdul Qari said, "I went out in the company of 'Umar bin Al-Khattab one night in Ramadan to the mosque and found the people praying in different groups. A man praying alone or a man praying with a little group behind him. So, 'Umar said, 'In my opinion I would better collect these (people) under the leadership of one Qari (Reciter) (i.e. let them pray in congregation!)'. So, he made up his mind to congregate them behind Ubai bin Ka'b. Then on another night I went again in his company and the people were praying behind their reciter. On that, 'Umar remarked, 'What an excellent Bid'a (i.e. innovation in religion) this is; but the prayer which they do not perform, but sleep at its time is better than the one they are offering.' He meant the prayer in the last part of the night. (In those days) people used to pray in the early part of the night." (sahi Bukhari)

The Nite prayers of the Holy prophet during Ramadan was only 11 rakaats, no less no more. see hadith:Narrated Abu Salama bin 'Abdur Rahman: that he asked 'Aisha "How was the prayer of Allah's Apostle in Ramadan?" She replied, "He did not pray more than eleven Rakat in Ramadan or in any other month. He used to pray four Rakat ---- let alone their beauty and length----and then he would pray four ----let alone their beauty and length ----and then he would pray three Rakat (Witr)." She added, "I asked, 'O Allah's Apostle! Do you sleep before praying the Witr?' He replied, 'O 'Aisha! My eyes sleep but my heart does not sleep." (Sahi bukhari)

Some Islamic scholars discouraged the Congregational Tarawi early of the nite then following morning perform(1am) another prayer tahajud(it is considered bida'ah based on the Hadith.)

I will give you some guidance in my next blog. tanx- Dr. Kuit

Permalink Reply by Gilbert "Sulayman" Hong on November 10, 2010 at 4:57am

Assalamualaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu!
itinuro ng propeta(SAW) na mas mainam manalangin ng sama-sama kaya marami ang nagsa-salah ng tarawih na jama'ah. at nung makita ng propeta(SAW) na nag-salah ng nafil bilang karagdagang panalangin ang mga sahabah ay hindi niya(SAW) sinaway ang mga ito kaya naman eto ang naging basehan ng iba natin iskolar na ang pagsa-salah ng tarawih na jama'ah ay tanggap, insh'Allah. ganoon din naman ang pagsasalah ng tarawih ng higit sa 11raka'ah...^_^

Permalink Reply by DR.NORODIN A. KUIT on November 10, 2010 at 6:07am

Please see one of Sahih or authentic hadith by Al-Bukhari(r.a.) regarding Tarawi in congregation:

No. 5718- Narrated by bin Thabit (the scriber of the prophet):
Allah's apostle made a small room, and Allah's apostle came out(of his house) prayed in it. Some men came and joined him in his prayer. Then again the next night they came for the prayer, but Allah's apostle delayed and did not come out to them. So, they raised thier voices and knocked the door with small stones(to draw attention), he came out to them in a state of anger, saying, " You are still insisting(tarawi in congregation) that I thought this prayer might become obligatory(fardh) on you. So, you people, offer this prayer at your home for the best prayer of a person is the one which offers at home, except obligatory prayers(Fardh)".

Please see my previous post.
In my opinion, there is nothing wrong if we pray tarawi in congregation as ordered by Caliph Omar( one of the rightly guided Caliphs)but the assurance of reward from Allah is uncertain.Physically maybe we will gain, but spiritually I dont know based on the hadith above.(but please do extensive research on this for guidance)
With regards to the units(rakaat )of Tarawi , based on the Hadith(by Aisha) I have of the same opinion.
But I discourage muslims during ramadan at Tahjud period not to perform Tarawi in the early nite(8 pm) but only perform Tajajud in the mosque as sunnah of the Holy Prophet(Narrated 'Aisha: Allah's Apostle used to practice Itikaf in the last ten nights of Ramadan and used to say, "Look for the Night of Qadr in the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan ,).