Fatwaa ID: 1043

Question:
Aslam o Alikum, I hope you are well.

1. The only masjid in town is planning to celebrate Eid on Friday based on scientific calculation. What should I do given I wont have a choice but to celebrate with them for being part of community or fast (if hilal is not sighted) but in that case I will not be able to make catch any eid prayer?
2. Our masjid is mixed community of people with different madhab and fiqh (muqalideen and non-muqallid as well). The tarawih is arranged in a way that there will be 8 tarawih and then 2+1 rakat witr, and then there will be next set of 12 tarawih and 3 rakat (hanafi) witr. I follow Hanafi madhab, what should I do during the first 2+1 rakat witr? I usually lead part of next 12 rakat of tarawih, and I have been told by some arab brother that my surat fatiha is incorrect and invalidate my prayer since I pronounce ﺽ like Z sound(I did my Hifz in Pakistan and that’s how I learnt and have practiced over years). I am trying to change my ﺽ sound to dad sound but it is not easy since I have to focus very hard on that part of tilawat and often mis-pronounce the word. What should I do?
3. Since it is a mixed masjid, some of the brothers lead tarawih by reading from mushaf, I still follow them given that I do not want cause any issue or cause any distrust in community. Is my action correct? Should I repeat my tarawih later?

Jazakallah.

Answer:
In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salaamu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullaahi wa-barakaatuh.

1. Using calculation for the commencement or ending of a month is a bid’ah. If Friday does not happen to be ‘Eid based on genuine physical moon sighting, then you should go to a neighboring town and perform ‘Eid there. You should observe fast on the previous day.

2a. We take note of the details of your query. We wish to point out that restricting Taraaweeh to 8 rak’ahs and regarding that to be the sunnah is indeed a bid’ah. The sunnah according to all four legal schools is 20 rak’ahs. Nevertheless, when they perform witr in the middle, you may either take a break or join them but with the intention of nafl. After the imaam makes salaam from the one rak’ah, you should add another rak’ah.

2b. To recite ض with a z sound (urdu ض) is incorrect. Doing hifz in a certain country or reciting in a manner for years is not a justification to continue reading wrong. You must recite the letter correctly. Reciting the Qur’aan with correct Tajweed is waajib. This cannot be compromised. Focus on the Tajweed when you revise. Focus on your recitation when you lead salaah as well. The Qur’aan curses those who recite it incorrectly, especially when you know what you are doing is wrong. Many of the pious predecessors would not perform salaah behind those who recite the ض incorrectly.

3. According to the Hanafi legal school, reading from the mus’haf in salaah will invalidate the salaah. If a non-Hanafi imaam leads in this manner, the salaah of the Hanafi followers will be invalid. They must repeat that salaah. You should discuss the fiqh with the people in your masjid and excuse yourself.

And Allaah Ta’aala knows best.
Mufti Muajul I. Chowdhury
Darul Iftaa New York
https://askthemufti.us/

09/26/1444 AH – 04/17/2023 CE | AMG3-3655

وصل اللهم وسلم وبارك على سيدنا محمد وعلى ءاله وصحبه أجمعين

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