Is it permissible for the imam to preach to the people in the middle of the tarawih prayer?
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The questioner : Oh Shaykh, may Allah reward you: What is the ruling on the imam speaking in the middle of the tarawih prayer, and doing this regularly?
The Shaykh : Yes, meaning speaking, like saying "straighten up" and "align yourselves"?
The questioner : I mean a sermon.
The Shaykh : There is no objection. If he stands up for the second taslim and understands that he sees the row has become crooked, or that the worshippers have become uneven and scattered and there is a gap among them, let him say: "Straighten up" or "Align yourselves," and there is no blame on him.
The questioner : A sermon, oh Shaykh.
The Shaykh : As for a sermon, no, because this is not the way of the Salaf. But he should preach to them if the need arises, or he may do so after the tarawih.
The questioner : Would this be a religious innovation, oh Shaykh?
The Shaykh : If he intends worship by it, it is a religious innovation. The sign of intending worship is that he persists in it every night. Then we say: Why, my brother, do you preach to the people? Some people may have work and wish to finish the tarawih and leave to catch up on the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him):Jami` at-Tirmidhi 806Sahih (Darussalam) And if you like the sermon, and half the people like it too, or rather three-quarters of the people like it, do not imprison the other quarter because of the love of the three-quarters. Did not the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) say: or as the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said, meaning: Do not measure people by yourself or by the others who like the talk and the sermon. Measure people by what makes them comfortable. Pray the tarawih with them, and when you are done with that and you leave your prayer and the people leave, say whatever you wish of speech. Do you understand?
And with this the session ends, and until the next session, if Allah wills, next Thursday. We ask Allah to grant us and you beneficial knowledge and righteous deeds. And be assured of good by attending this place, for:Sahih Muslim 2699a.
And all praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon his family and all his Companions.
The Shaykh : Yes, meaning speaking, like saying "straighten up" and "align yourselves"?
The questioner : I mean a sermon.
The Shaykh : There is no objection. If he stands up for the second taslim and understands that he sees the row has become crooked, or that the worshippers have become uneven and scattered and there is a gap among them, let him say: "Straighten up" or "Align yourselves," and there is no blame on him.
The questioner : A sermon, oh Shaykh.
The Shaykh : As for a sermon, no, because this is not the way of the Salaf. But he should preach to them if the need arises, or he may do so after the tarawih.
The questioner : Would this be a religious innovation, oh Shaykh?
The Shaykh : If he intends worship by it, it is a religious innovation. The sign of intending worship is that he persists in it every night. Then we say: Why, my brother, do you preach to the people? Some people may have work and wish to finish the tarawih and leave to catch up on the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him):
Indeed, whoever stands (praying) with the Imam until he finished, then it is recorded for him that he prayed the whole night.
من قام مع الإمام حتى ينصرف كتب له قيام ليلةIf one of you leads the people in prayer, let him shorten it, for among them is the weak, the sick, and the one in need.
إذا أمّ أحدكم الناس فليخفف فإن من ورائه ضعيف والمريض وذا الحاجةAnd with this the session ends, and until the next session, if Allah wills, next Thursday. We ask Allah to grant us and you beneficial knowledge and righteous deeds. And be assured of good by attending this place, for:
he who treads the path in search of knowledge, Allah would make that path easy, leading to Paradise for him
من سلك طريقاً يلتمس فيه علماً سهل الله له به طريقاً إلى الجنةAnd all praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon his family and all his Companions.