What is the ruling on the groups in 'Arafah, and is a sermon obligatory upon them?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : We prayed with you in 'Arafah, and one of the brothers delivered a sermon. Did any of the predecessors state that it is prescribed for the groups in 'Arafah to have a sermon delivered by someone other than the imam?
The Shaykh : No, we do not know of that. However, if the purpose of the sermon is to remind people of some of the rituals of Hajj, especially those related to the day itself in 'Arafah, then even if there is no precedent for the Grand Imam to deliver such a sermon, it is permissible to deliver such a sermon for the sake of teaching, because it is not a devotional act whose meaning is not rational, but rather it is a rational act whose meaning is teaching and reminding. We deliver sermons and preach every day, and this is part of these sermons and exhortations. So I do not think the issue requires us to find a precedent from the Salaf for such a sermon. This is my answer to you, and Allah knows best.
The questioner : But Shaykh, there is a problem, which is that the purpose of the people gathering with the imam in the mosque is lost. If...
The Shaykh : May Allah reward you. The gathering of the people with the imam is achieved, because the congregation is larger than the space of the mosque.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Clear?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : So the purpose is achieved.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Because all the people, especially in this time, do not fit in the mosque. And as you see them now, is it permissible in principle for Muslims to separate into groups for prayer?
The questioner : No, gathering is better.
The Shaykh : There is no doubt, but is this gathering possible with such a large crowd?
The questioner : It is not possible, but...
The Shaykh : So? Necessity has its own rulings.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, Shaykh. Their gathering. Their separation in regular prayer has a precedent, because there were more than one or two mosques in the city, and they were far apart.
The Shaykh : I am speaking of one place. In Mina, for example, or in 'Arafah, not in the city. And regarding staying, we are speaking now of where we are. Is the principle to gather in one prayer or to separate?
The questioner : There is no doubt, gathering.
The Shaykh : There is no doubt that the principle is gathering, but we are separating. Is this separation within our control? Is it voluntary? Or is it out of necessity?
The questioner : Necessity dictates it.
The Shaykh : That is it. And therefore, your statement that the principle is to pray behind the imam is correct; that is the principle. But this is not possible today due to the large number of pilgrims. Therefore, they are separated by the ruling of necessity.
The questioner : But Shaykh, may Allah forgive you, is it not said that this need existed among the predecessors, yet they did not do it...
The Shaykh : How did they not do it?
The questioner : They did not deliver a separate sermon.
The Shaykh : Did they establish a separate prayer?
The questioner : I mean, did they pray separately, do you mean?
The Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner : I do not know, and I cannot be certain, yes or no.
The Shaykh :[An-Nahl 16:43] .
The questioner : So it happened, may Allah reward you with good?
The Shaykh : It must be so, my brother, in every era, let alone this era with its many pilgrims.
The questioner : So when it happened, did the sermon happen with it?
The Shaykh : I answered you regarding the sermon.
The questioner : That it is rational in meaning.
The Shaykh : Yes, I answered you about the sermon.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : And to you, may Allah reward you.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : May He guide you and grant you good conduct.
The questioner : Amen. Peace be upon you.
The Shaykh : No, we do not know of that. However, if the purpose of the sermon is to remind people of some of the rituals of Hajj, especially those related to the day itself in 'Arafah, then even if there is no precedent for the Grand Imam to deliver such a sermon, it is permissible to deliver such a sermon for the sake of teaching, because it is not a devotional act whose meaning is not rational, but rather it is a rational act whose meaning is teaching and reminding. We deliver sermons and preach every day, and this is part of these sermons and exhortations. So I do not think the issue requires us to find a precedent from the Salaf for such a sermon. This is my answer to you, and Allah knows best.
The questioner : But Shaykh, there is a problem, which is that the purpose of the people gathering with the imam in the mosque is lost. If...
The Shaykh : May Allah reward you. The gathering of the people with the imam is achieved, because the congregation is larger than the space of the mosque.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Clear?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : So the purpose is achieved.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Because all the people, especially in this time, do not fit in the mosque. And as you see them now, is it permissible in principle for Muslims to separate into groups for prayer?
The questioner : No, gathering is better.
The Shaykh : There is no doubt, but is this gathering possible with such a large crowd?
The questioner : It is not possible, but...
The Shaykh : So? Necessity has its own rulings.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, Shaykh. Their gathering. Their separation in regular prayer has a precedent, because there were more than one or two mosques in the city, and they were far apart.
The Shaykh : I am speaking of one place. In Mina, for example, or in 'Arafah, not in the city. And regarding staying, we are speaking now of where we are. Is the principle to gather in one prayer or to separate?
The questioner : There is no doubt, gathering.
The Shaykh : There is no doubt that the principle is gathering, but we are separating. Is this separation within our control? Is it voluntary? Or is it out of necessity?
The questioner : Necessity dictates it.
The Shaykh : That is it. And therefore, your statement that the principle is to pray behind the imam is correct; that is the principle. But this is not possible today due to the large number of pilgrims. Therefore, they are separated by the ruling of necessity.
The questioner : But Shaykh, may Allah forgive you, is it not said that this need existed among the predecessors, yet they did not do it...
The Shaykh : How did they not do it?
The questioner : They did not deliver a separate sermon.
The Shaykh : Did they establish a separate prayer?
The questioner : I mean, did they pray separately, do you mean?
The Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner : I do not know, and I cannot be certain, yes or no.
The Shaykh :
So ask the people of the message if you do not know.
فاسألوا أهل الذّكر إن كنتم لا تعلمونThe questioner : So it happened, may Allah reward you with good?
The Shaykh : It must be so, my brother, in every era, let alone this era with its many pilgrims.
The questioner : So when it happened, did the sermon happen with it?
The Shaykh : I answered you regarding the sermon.
The questioner : That it is rational in meaning.
The Shaykh : Yes, I answered you about the sermon.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : And to you, may Allah reward you.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : May He guide you and grant you good conduct.
The questioner : Amen. Peace be upon you.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.