Authenticity of a narration

10-1-2005 | IslamWeb

Question:

Is it appropriate for Hujjaaj on Yawmil 'Arafah to conduct or participate in group supplications, is it harmless, or is it preferred to for each Hajj to supplicate privately? Please give appropriate supporting pieces of evidence for your viewpoint.

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

 

In principle there is no harm in making a supplication in congregation if this is not taken as a habit. Imaam Ibn Taymiyyah said: 'To gather for the recitation of the Qur'an, the mention of Allaah and supplication is good if this is not taken as an act performed frequently or linked to an innovation.' Moreover, Imaam Ahmad was asked: 'Is it dislikeable for people to gather and supplicate Allaah while raising their hands?" He replied: "What I dislike is for them to deliberately gather for this purpose and to take it as a habit.'

However, since this supplication in congregation takes place on the day of 'Arafah, and some present pilgrims or most of them, who are common people, they might believe that it is a Sunnah to make a supplication in congregation. Thus the person (who makes the supplication) in such a case would be in a critical situation in a way that he will be calling to something that is not from the Sunnah while his intention is to do good. So to be on the safe side it is best not to perform the supplication in congregation on this day in order.

Allaah knows best.