Is it permissible for a non-resident imam to shorten the prayer by reciting a short surah?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : If, Shaykh, a non-resident imam leads the people in prayer and he prolongs it, and they are annoyed with him. For example, he recites a page from Surat al-Haqqah, but he is not a resident imam; he prays with the people, but they do not like him, and they know he is from such-and-such a group and they dislike him. So how is it, for example, if he shortens the prayer, meaning he recites in 'Isha' [Al-A'la 87:1] [Ash-Shams 91:4] and these things that the people know and have memorized? It might be easier for them to bear than if he recites, for example, from Surat al-Naml or from others?
The Shaykh : Are you talking about the 'Isha' prayer or the Fajr prayer?
The questioner : The 'Isha' and Maghrib prayers, for example.
The Shaykh : And Fajr?
The questioner : Fajr is known; we are few in number, we pray for ourselves, and we bear it.
The Shaykh : Well, you mentioned: and similar surahs. This is the Sunnah. Are you saying he recites them or what?
The questioner : Does he recite them every night, for example?
The Shaykh : Are you saying he recites them or he does not recite them?
The questioner : He recites them, that is it.
The Shaykh : This is the Sunnah.
The questioner : For example, he comes and recites from Surat al-Naml.
Another questioner : Meaning, today he recites it, tomorrow he recites it, and the day after he recites it. This is not possible, meaning reciting a page from the mushaf.
The Shaykh : No, please allow me, the intention is "and similar surahs."
The questioner : Meaning a page from the mushaf.
The Shaykh : The important thing is the amount that equals this surah: and [Al-A'la 87:1]. The intention is not to adhere to them specifically.
The questioner : Yes; but if the people, for example, are annoyed by reciting from al-Naml because they do not know it, but: they know it, and always the thing that passes by a person, he finds it easy. So if he prays with them using the last Juz' (Juz' 'Amma) and varies within it.
The Shaykh : By Allah, these are precise observations in the wrong place. Now, if I recite a long surah equal to the surah: twice, they would not notice. He recited it in two rak'ahs.
The questioner : Meaning, al-Haqqah in two rak'ahs is too much, Shaykh?
The Shaykh : By Allah, I am not recalling how many verses it is.
The questioner : Al-Haqqah is about two pages.
The Shaykh : The important thing is that we have a model we follow, which the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) established. There is no difference between a resident and a non-resident, because the issue of being a resident is an innovation and not necessary.
The questioner : And he is a resident, and they bear it against their will...
The Shaykh : Well, since he is not a resident, he can do without them, so he is freer than that one.
Exalt the name of your Lord, the Most High,
سبح اسم ربك الأعلىAnd [by] the night when it covers
والليل إذا يغشىThe Shaykh : Are you talking about the 'Isha' prayer or the Fajr prayer?
The questioner : The 'Isha' and Maghrib prayers, for example.
The Shaykh : And Fajr?
The questioner : Fajr is known; we are few in number, we pray for ourselves, and we bear it.
The Shaykh : Well, you mentioned:
And the sun and its brightness
والشمس وضحاهاThe questioner : Does he recite them every night, for example?
The Shaykh : Are you saying he recites them or he does not recite them?
The questioner : He recites them, that is it.
The Shaykh : This is the Sunnah.
The questioner : For example, he comes and recites from Surat al-Naml.
Another questioner : Meaning, today he recites it, tomorrow he recites it, and the day after he recites it. This is not possible, meaning reciting a page from the mushaf.
The Shaykh : No, please allow me, the intention is "and similar surahs."
The questioner : Meaning a page from the mushaf.
The Shaykh : The important thing is the amount that equals this surah:
And the sun and its brightness
والشمس وضحاهاExalt the name of your Lord, the Most High,
سبح اسم ربك الأعلىThe questioner : Yes; but if the people, for example, are annoyed by reciting from al-Naml because they do not know it, but:
And the morning
والضحىThe Shaykh : By Allah, these are precise observations in the wrong place. Now, if I recite a long surah equal to the surah:
And the sun and its brightness
والشمس وضحاهاThe questioner : Meaning, al-Haqqah in two rak'ahs is too much, Shaykh?
The Shaykh : By Allah, I am not recalling how many verses it is.
The questioner : Al-Haqqah is about two pages.
The Shaykh : The important thing is that we have a model we follow, which the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) established. There is no difference between a resident and a non-resident, because the issue of being a resident is an innovation and not necessary.
The questioner : And he is a resident, and they bear it against their will...
The Shaykh : Well, since he is not a resident, he can do without them, so he is freer than that one.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.