What is the standard for not prolonging the Tarawih prayer?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : Shaykh, may Allah bless you. It is mentioned in the Sunnah regarding consideration for the state of the ma'mum (those praying behind the imam) in ... the prayer ... the hadith of Mu'adh ibn 'Amr. The people ... if a person prays a long prayer with them in Tarawih, they get bored and may leave the mosque in which they desire to pray for its sake.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : So what is it that should be done in this situation?
The Shaykh : We say first that Tarawih is a recommended practice (sunnah); if someone misses it, he owes nothing. Second, we say that if he sees that they desire lightness, let him lighten it, but to the extent of performing the obligatory acts. It is not like this, as if it were play. That is, even the imam may not be at ease with the ma'mum, who will not begin the action until the imam has finished it.
The questioner : For example, to the extent of three tasbih (glorifications)?
The Shaykh : By Allah, three tasbih may be long and may be short. A person says, "Subhan Rabbi al-A'la" (Glory be to my Lord, the Most High), "Subhan Rabbi al-A'la," "Subhan Rabbi al-A'la."
The student: This is short.
The Shaykh : And what happens then?
The student: It is short.
The reciter: It is short.
The Shaykh : It is short; the ma'mum cannot extend it or reach the ground. But if he wants to extend it, "Subhan Rabbi al-A'la," "Subhan Rabbi al-A'la," "Subhan Rabbi al-A'la," it may be possible.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : It is sufficient, yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : So what is it that should be done in this situation?
The Shaykh : We say first that Tarawih is a recommended practice (sunnah); if someone misses it, he owes nothing. Second, we say that if he sees that they desire lightness, let him lighten it, but to the extent of performing the obligatory acts. It is not like this, as if it were play. That is, even the imam may not be at ease with the ma'mum, who will not begin the action until the imam has finished it.
The questioner : For example, to the extent of three tasbih (glorifications)?
The Shaykh : By Allah, three tasbih may be long and may be short. A person says, "Subhan Rabbi al-A'la" (Glory be to my Lord, the Most High), "Subhan Rabbi al-A'la," "Subhan Rabbi al-A'la."
The student: This is short.
The Shaykh : And what happens then?
The student: It is short.
The reciter: It is short.
The Shaykh : It is short; the ma'mum cannot extend it or reach the ground. But if he wants to extend it, "Subhan Rabbi al-A'la," "Subhan Rabbi al-A'la," "Subhan Rabbi al-A'la," it may be possible.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : It is sufficient, yes.