We have a mosque where we pray Jumu'ah, but I have seen practices there that I have not seen in any other mosque.
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The questioner : We have a mosque where we pray Jumu'ah, but I have seen practices there that I have not seen in any other mosque. They are that the imam performs the Ibrahimi prayer, along with everyone in the mosque, loudly and collectively, and this is before the khutbah. Is this permissible or not?
Second: They recite Ayat al-Kursi and engage in tasbih and tahlil loudly and collectively as well, and they conclude with al-Fatihah for the soul of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). I advised them and told them that this is not permissible, but the imam of the mosque said to me that it is a sunnah or a mustahabb. I asked him for the evidence, but he refused to do so. We ask you, O honorable Shaykh, for a comprehensive answer and clarification for us and for them, knowing that, praise be to Allah, I am upright and holding fast to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), far from superstitions and false beliefs. We ask for your answer?
The Shaykh : This question includes several issues:
The first issue: The Ibrahimi prayer before the khutbah, performed by the imam and those in the mosque collectively and loudly. The Ibrahimi prayer is:Sahih al-Bukhari 3370 If a person performs this Ibrahimi prayer as the questioner described, before the khutbah, collectively and loudly, he has committed a bid'ah (religious innovation) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions did not do. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) warned his ummah (the Muslim community): Sunan an-Nasa'i 1578Sahih (Darussalam).
What is prescribed (mashru') for the people of the mosque before the imam arrives is to occupy themselves with prayer, reciting the Qur'an, and dhikr (the remembrance of Allah), each one individually, without gathering together for it.
As for the imam, what is prescribed (mashru') for him when he enters is to greet those near the door first, then ascend the minbar (the pulpit) and face the people, greeting them generally, then sit until the adhan (the call to prayer) is finished. Then he stands and delivers the first khutbah (the sermon), then sits, then delivers the second khutbah, then descends and leads the people in prayer. This is what is prescribed (mashru') for the imam on the day of Jumu'ah (the Friday prayer). It is not befitting for the imam to enter the mosque before the time of the khutbah and prayer has arrived, as some people who love good do, desiring to be early to acts of obedience. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not do this; he did not enter the mosque on the day of Jumu'ah to wait for the khutbah and prayer. The best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Therefore, what a person should do is seek the guidance of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), for it is the best of guidance.
As for the group who are waiting for the imam, the earlier they arrive for Jumu'ah, the better, as it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Riyad as-Salihin 1155
As for the second issue included in this question: It is the recitation of al-Fatihah and dhikr after the prayer, and the recitation of Ayat al-Kursi loudly and collectively. This is also from the bid'ah (religious innovations). What is known from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions is that after the prayer, they remember Allah the Exalted loudly, but each one of them remembers Allah the Exalted individually, without joining together.
Raising the voice with dhikr after the Jumu'ah prayer or any of the obligatory prayers is a sunnah (recommended practice), as this is authentic in al-Bukhari from Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), who said:Sahih Muslim 583c.
As for the recitation of al-Fatihah, whether it is done secretly or aloud, I do not know of any hadith (a report of the Prophet's words or deeds) from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding it. The hadith only came regarding the recitation of Ayat al-Kursi, "Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad" (Say: He is Allah, the One), and the two Mu'awwidhat (the two chapters of seeking refuge).
Second: They recite Ayat al-Kursi and engage in tasbih and tahlil loudly and collectively as well, and they conclude with al-Fatihah for the soul of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). I advised them and told them that this is not permissible, but the imam of the mosque said to me that it is a sunnah or a mustahabb. I asked him for the evidence, but he refused to do so. We ask you, O honorable Shaykh, for a comprehensive answer and clarification for us and for them, knowing that, praise be to Allah, I am upright and holding fast to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), far from superstitions and false beliefs. We ask for your answer?
The Shaykh : This question includes several issues:
The first issue: The Ibrahimi prayer before the khutbah, performed by the imam and those in the mosque collectively and loudly. The Ibrahimi prayer is:
O Allah! Send Your Mercy on Muhammad and on the family of Muhammad, as You sent Your Mercy on Abraham and on the family of Abraham, for You are the Most Praise-worthy, the Most Glorious. O Allah! Send Your Blessings on Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent your Blessings on Abraham and on the family of Abraham, for You are the Most Praise-worthy, the Most Glorious.
اللهم صلى على محمد وعلى آل محمد كما صليت على إبراهيم وعلى آل إبراهيم إنك حميد مجيد ، اللهم بارك على محمد وعلى آل محمد كما باركت على إبراهيم وعلى آل إبراهيم إنك حميد مجيدevery newly-invented thing is an innovation and every innovation is going astray, and every going astray is in the Fire
إياكم ومحدثات الأمور فإن كل بدعة ضلالة وكل ضلالة في النارWhat is prescribed (mashru') for the people of the mosque before the imam arrives is to occupy themselves with prayer, reciting the Qur'an, and dhikr (the remembrance of Allah), each one individually, without gathering together for it.
As for the imam, what is prescribed (mashru') for him when he enters is to greet those near the door first, then ascend the minbar (the pulpit) and face the people, greeting them generally, then sit until the adhan (the call to prayer) is finished. Then he stands and delivers the first khutbah (the sermon), then sits, then delivers the second khutbah, then descends and leads the people in prayer. This is what is prescribed (mashru') for the imam on the day of Jumu'ah (the Friday prayer). It is not befitting for the imam to enter the mosque before the time of the khutbah and prayer has arrived, as some people who love good do, desiring to be early to acts of obedience. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not do this; he did not enter the mosque on the day of Jumu'ah to wait for the khutbah and prayer. The best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Therefore, what a person should do is seek the guidance of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), for it is the best of guidance.
As for the group who are waiting for the imam, the earlier they arrive for Jumu'ah, the better, as it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
he is like one who offers a camel as a sacrifice to seek the Pleasure of Allah; and he who comes at the second hour is like one who offers a cow to win the Pleasure of Allah; and he who comes at the third hour is like one who offers a ram with horns (in sacrifice); and he who comes at the fourth hour is like one who offers a hen; and he who comes at the fifth hour is like one who offers an egg
أن من راح في الساعة الأولى فكأنما قرب بدنة ومن راح في الساعة الثانية فكأنما قرب بقرة ومن راح في الثالثة فكأنما قرب كبشاً أقرن ومن راح في الرابعة فكأنما قرب دجاجة ومن راح في الخامسة فكأنما قرب بيضةAs for the second issue included in this question: It is the recitation of al-Fatihah and dhikr after the prayer, and the recitation of Ayat al-Kursi loudly and collectively. This is also from the bid'ah (religious innovations). What is known from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions is that after the prayer, they remember Allah the Exalted loudly, but each one of them remembers Allah the Exalted individually, without joining together.
Raising the voice with dhikr after the Jumu'ah prayer or any of the obligatory prayers is a sunnah (recommended practice), as this is authentic in al-Bukhari from Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), who said:
Dhikr (mentioning the name of Allah) in a loud voice after obligatory prayers was (a common practice) during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)
كان رفع الصوت بالذكر حين ينصرف الناس من المكتوبة على عهد النبي صلى الله عليه وسلمAs for the recitation of al-Fatihah, whether it is done secretly or aloud, I do not know of any hadith (a report of the Prophet's words or deeds) from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding it. The hadith only came regarding the recitation of Ayat al-Kursi, "Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad" (Say: He is Allah, the One), and the two Mu'awwidhat (the two chapters of seeking refuge).