Is it recommended to seek refuge with Allah at verses of punishment and to ask for mercy at verses of mercy during the prayer?
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The questioner : His EminenceThe Shaykh : Some of the followers, when the imam recites a verse of punishment, seek refuge with Allah. Is this correct?
The Shaykh : Seeking refuge with Allah at a verse of punishment, asking for mercy at a verse of mercy, and glorifying Allah at a verse of glorification is a recommended practice (sunnah) in the night prayer, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to do.
In the obligatory prayer, the apparent recommended practice (sunnah) is that one does not seek refuge, ask, or glorify when passing through what necessitates such actions. This is with regard to the imam. However, if he does so, our jurists (may Allah have mercy on them) said that there is no harm in it.
As for the follower, if it does not prevent him from listening to his imam’s recitation, there is no harm. I think a single word does not prevent him. If he says, “Glorified is Allah,” or “I ask Allah for His bounty,” it does not prevent him from listening. So there is no harm in saying this, but if he remains silent, that is better.
The questioner : Does anyone raise his finger?
The Shaykh : No. Raising the finger is a movement with no need for it.
The Shaykh : Seeking refuge with Allah at a verse of punishment, asking for mercy at a verse of mercy, and glorifying Allah at a verse of glorification is a recommended practice (sunnah) in the night prayer, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to do.
In the obligatory prayer, the apparent recommended practice (sunnah) is that one does not seek refuge, ask, or glorify when passing through what necessitates such actions. This is with regard to the imam. However, if he does so, our jurists (may Allah have mercy on them) said that there is no harm in it.
As for the follower, if it does not prevent him from listening to his imam’s recitation, there is no harm. I think a single word does not prevent him. If he says, “Glorified is Allah,” or “I ask Allah for His bounty,” it does not prevent him from listening. So there is no harm in saying this, but if he remains silent, that is better.
The questioner : Does anyone raise his finger?
The Shaykh : No. Raising the finger is a movement with no need for it.