What is the ruling on the imam weeping and prolonging the qunut in the tarawih prayers?
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The questioner : Some imams weep intensely and sob as well, and there are those who criticize them for it, considering it an affectation. What is the ruling on this action, and what is the ruling on those who criticize the imam for this action?
The Shaykh : As for the thing that comes without affectation, and is weeping gently, not with great intensity, there is nothing wrong with it. It is among the matters that indicate the softness of the heart of its owner and the perfection of his humility and the presence of his heart. As for the one who affects it, I fear that this is among the showing off (riya') for which its doer is punished and not rewarded. Also, you find some people at the peak of the witr prayer coming with long supplications, in strange styles, that were not reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and which cause hardship for the worshippers or some of them. And the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) used to choose the most comprehensive of the supplications and leave what is other than that.
What I advise my brother imams is not to prolong this Qunut to this length that burdens the people, and to come with strange, comprehensive supplications. And the best of speech is what is brief and meaningful. And for a person to come with the thing in the prescribed manner that does not bore the people is better than for him to come with it in a manner that bores the people. Yes.
The presenter : Yes,
The Shaykh : As for the thing that comes without affectation, and is weeping gently, not with great intensity, there is nothing wrong with it. It is among the matters that indicate the softness of the heart of its owner and the perfection of his humility and the presence of his heart. As for the one who affects it, I fear that this is among the showing off (riya') for which its doer is punished and not rewarded. Also, you find some people at the peak of the witr prayer coming with long supplications, in strange styles, that were not reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and which cause hardship for the worshippers or some of them. And the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) used to choose the most comprehensive of the supplications and leave what is other than that.
What I advise my brother imams is not to prolong this Qunut to this length that burdens the people, and to come with strange, comprehensive supplications. And the best of speech is what is brief and meaningful. And for a person to come with the thing in the prescribed manner that does not bore the people is better than for him to come with it in a manner that bores the people. Yes.
The presenter : Yes,
Source
ابن العثيمين - فتاوى الصيام — archive.org (39:09)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.