Question:-
After any Fardh Salaah, what is the status of the Dua made by the Imaam? Generally, it is observed that Durood, general Dua and Dua for forgiveness is made after the Fardh Salaah and thereafter Dua is concluded. Many people stand up immediately after the Fardh Salaah and leave the Masjid. Also it is observed, that a few Imaams do not make Dua due to which many people raise objections. What is the ruling of Shariah in this regard?
Answer:-
Hadrat Mugheerah Radiallahu Anhu wrote to Hadrat Muawaiya Radiallahu Anhu informing him that, Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam would recite the following Dua after every Salaah:
لا إِلَهَ إِلا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ اللَّهُمَّ لا مَانِعَ لِمَا أَعْطَيْتَ وَلا مُعْطِىَ لِمَا مَنَعْتَ وَلا يَنْفَعُ ذَا الْجَدِّ مِنْكَ الْجَدُّ
and according to some narrations he would recite,
اللهم أنت السلام ومنك السلام تباركت يا ذا الجلال والإكرام
Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam is reported to have said, “The five daily Salaah have been fixed in the best of times, therefore, exert yourself in Dua after these Salaah.”
It is narrated from Hadrat Anas Bin Maalik Radiallahu Anhu, “When Salaah is established (that is when Salaah takes place), then the doors of the heaven are opened and Dua is accepted.”
Allama Tabri Rahimahullah narrates from Jafar Bin Muhammad who states that, Dua after the Fardh Salaah is far superior to Dua that is made after the Nafl Salaah like the superiority of Fardh over Nafl.
وفيه: الْمُغِيرَةِ، أنَّهُ كَتَبَ إِلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ أَنَّ النَّبِيّ (صلى الله عليه وسلم) كَانَ يَقُولُ فِي دُبُرِ كُلِّ صَلاةٍ إِذَا سَلَّمَ: (لا إِلَهَ إِلا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ، وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ، اللَّهُمَّ لا مَانِعَ لِمَا أَعْطَيْتَ، وَلا مُعْطِىَ لِمَا مَنَعْتَ، وَلا يَنْفَعُ ذَا الْجَدِّ مِنْكَ الْجَدُّ) . فى حديث هذا الباب الحضّ على التسبيح والتحميد فى أدبار الصلوات، وأن ذلك يوازي فى الفضل إنفاق المال فى طاعة الله لقوله: (أفلا أخبركما بما تدركون به من كان قبلكم) . وروى عن النبى (صلى الله عليه وسلم) أنه قال: (وضعت الصلوات فى خير الساعات فاجتهدوا فى الدعاء دبر الصلوات) . قال الطبري: حدثنا ابن المثني، وابن بشار، قالا: حدثنا يحيى بن سعيد، عن سليمان التيمي، عن قتادة، عن أنس بن مالك قال: (إذا أقيمت الصلاة فتحت أبواب السماء واستجيب الدعاء) . وروى الطبري عن جعفر بن محمد قال: الدعاء بعد المكتوبة أفضل من الدعاء بعد النافلة كفضل المكتوبة على النافلة (شرح صحيح البخاري لابن بطال ص94 ج10)
It is clear from the above narrations that Dua after the Fardh Salaah is extremely valuable. The Ummah is currently experiencing a number of trials and tribulations, both in their individual capacity, and as a whole. The solution to these problems is in resorting to Dua and earnestly supplicating before Allah Ta’ala, as it is Allah Ta’ala alone that can solve our problems. However, Duas should be kept short after those Fardh Salaah that are followed by a Sunnah Salaah such as Zuhr, Maghrib and Esha, whilst one may engage in longer Duas after the Fajr and Asr Salaah.
Notwithstanding the above, the moment the congregational Salaah terminates (with the Salaam of the Imaam), the Musallis are free to either engage in their own Dua, or join the Imaam in the congregational Dua, or they may leave the gathering. There isn’t any law of Shariah that compels them to remain behind and participate in the congregational Dua.
Similarly, there is no law of Shariah that compels the Imaam to engage in congregational Dua, as every person is aware of his own needs and able to ask for his needs before Allah Ta’ala on his own. The Masnoon Duas that are recited after the congregational Salaah can also be recited individually. Hence, an objection should not be raised if certain Musallis leave the gathering without participating in the congregational Dua, particularly if they have some need to fulfil, nor should an objection be raised if the Imaam doesn’t engage in congregational Dua at times, as the congregational Dua is Mustahab (a preferred act) at the maximum.
If people persist upon a Mustahab action to the extent that they start regarding it as compulsory, then it becomes a Bid’ah (innovation). Therefore, a Mustahab act should be kept in its respective place and should not be elevated nor afforded importance more than it deserves. In conclusion, the status of the congregational Dua after the Fardh Salaah should not be undermined, as it is extremely valuable as understood from the above narrations recorded in the commentary of Saheeh Bukhari. At the same time, the importance of it should not be over-exaggerated that it is treated like an obligatory act, rather it should be kept in its respective position and place as stipulated in Shariah.
ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Date: 25 Dhul Hijjah 1443 / 25 July 2022
