The Ruling on Gathering to Fast on Mondays and Breaking the Fast Collectively

Question:
The questioner says: There are some brothers who gather and agree to fast every Monday and break their fast together at the rest house, and each week the breaking of the fast is hosted by one of them. They have been doing this for ten years. Is their action permissible, or is it a bid'ah (religious innovation)? They say that they are fasting in any case, but they gather together to break the fast and to gain reward, and some of them encourage others to fast.

Answer:
No, this is not permissible. This is not permissible. They call this collective fasting and collective standing in night prayer. This is not permissible because it is a bid'ah (religious innovation). Each person fasts and breaks his fast individually. If it happens that his brother or colleague comes to him, or if he invites him, that does not contradict the ruling. However, a group binding themselves together to fast all together and break their fast all together is a bid'ah in the religion. Yes.