The Ruling on Following the Mutawwif in Collective Supplication

Question:
Praise be to Allah. It is said that in the Tawaf area, there are groups who repeat supplications aloud behind a man who repeats the supplications for them. Should I say "Ameen" behind them and be content with that?

Answer:
This is what some groups of pilgrims do: they appoint a man they call the Mutawwif. He supplicates for them, and they say "Ameen" or repeat what he says. This has no basis in the religion, and it has several dangers. First, it involves adhering to supplications for which there is no evidence of adherence in the Shari'ah, and the common people think they are obligatory and specific. The second danger is that they raise their voices in supplication, which disturbs others, specifically those performing Tawaf. The third danger is that most of those behind this Mutawwif do not understand the meaning of the supplication; they merely repeat it like a parrot without knowing what it means. If the pilgrims were to leave it to themselves to supplicate for themselves with supplications they hold in their hearts and speak with their tongues, and they mention their needs to Allah the Exalted, since people's needs differ—this person's need is such, and that person's need is such, and people's needs vary—then the space would be left for each pilgrim to supplicate for himself between him and his Lord, to strive in supplication, and not to disturb others. Yes.