A banal principle

Often, people tend to justify a certain way of performing an 'Ibaadah' with the excuse that there is nothing that prohibits performing it in this way. An example is to make a second Dua after the Sounnah and Nafl Salah. Normally, Dua is highly recommended. There is no restriction as long as a person does it individually. However, when it is done in Jamaat, it takes a new turn. Above all, when people start doing it regularly in Jamaat, it takes another shape.

People, who do it, say that there is nothing wrong in it because there is nothing in the Shari’ah that prevents this practice. Nevertheless, is it a good principle to be used for supporting a practice? As far as the forms of Ibaadat are concerned, this principle is not valid. The very same form of Ibaadah adopted by the Salaf (Sahabah-e-Kiraam (Radiyallahu Anhum), Taabi'in and Tabi Taabi'in, must be adopted. The forms of Ibaadat that were not practiced by the Salaf, are not according to the Shari’ah. When the Salaf have not practiced a form of Ibaadah, this is sufficient to say that it is not good. It is neither correct nor necessary to ask for specific proof where they said that this form of Ibaadah is not good. A second Dua after Sunnah and Nafl was not practiced by them in Jamaat. Therefore, this way of doing Dua is not according to the Shari’ah. If it would be according to the Shari’ah, they would have practiced it.

Similarly, those who authorise conducting the Khutbah of Jummah in another language, present a similar thesis also. According to them, there is nothing in the Shari’ah which says that it is not permissible to do it in another language. However, as explained, this way of reasoning is not correct due to the fact that the Salaf did not do in another language although there was a need for it. This suffices to show that this is not a good way of conducting Khutbah. It is not necessary to have a specific proof that prohibits this practice.

Therefore, an Ibaadah must be practiced according to the structure of the practice of the Salaf. It will be undesirable to practice it otherwise and differently.

[English version of "Doah après sounnat et nafil avec jamaate" – Al Jamiat – Vol.2 No.15]