Guidance for the imams of mosques regarding shortening the prayer and leaving the mosque in Ramadan
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner:
He says: I am Muhammad from al-Bahah. Honorable Shaykh, I see some of the imams of the mosques, especially in the blessed month of Ramadan, shorten the performance of the prayer, particularly the tarawih, by abbreviating it. Also, during the last ten days, they go to the Noble Makkah. What is your guidance?
The Shaykh:
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Abi Dawud 517Sahih (Al-Albani) The imam is responsible for the prayer of those behind him; he must perfect the prayer and complete it, and he must not shorten the prayer in a way that compromises it. Likewise, he must not lengthen the prayer in a way that is tedious and burdensome for the congregation. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Which of you is Sahih al-Bukhari 90 and the sick person who has this need? He should consider the conditions of the congregation without compromising the prayer. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you. We are about to take this call.
The Shaykh:
It is not permissible for him to go and leave his mosque in Ramadan, which is a time of great need, and leave his mosque to perform 'Umrah. Remaining in his mosque is more obligatory for him, because remaining in the mosque is obligatory, while 'Umrah is recommended. So he should not go to do what is recommended and leave what is obligatory upon him, unless he appoints a substitute to lead the prayer in the required manner. And it is better for him to remain himself and not appoint a substitute. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah bless you,
He says: I am Muhammad from al-Bahah. Honorable Shaykh, I see some of the imams of the mosques, especially in the blessed month of Ramadan, shorten the performance of the prayer, particularly the tarawih, by abbreviating it. Also, during the last ten days, they go to the Noble Makkah. What is your guidance?
The Shaykh:
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
The imam is responsible and the mu'adhdhin is trusted
الإمام ضامن، والمؤذن مؤتمنSo whoever leads the people in prayer should shorten it because among them there are the sick
أم الناس فليخفف، فإن فيهم الكبيرThe presenter:
May Allah reward you. We are about to take this call.
The Shaykh:
It is not permissible for him to go and leave his mosque in Ramadan, which is a time of great need, and leave his mosque to perform 'Umrah. Remaining in his mosque is more obligatory for him, because remaining in the mosque is obligatory, while 'Umrah is recommended. So he should not go to do what is recommended and leave what is obligatory upon him, unless he appoints a substitute to lead the prayer in the required manner. And it is better for him to remain himself and not appoint a substitute. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah bless you,
Source
نور على الدرب - الفوزان - 03/131 — archive.org (18:13)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.