Reading from the author's words, with commentary and collation of manuscripts: "And you must know: if voluntary prayer is recommended at a specific time
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The reader: "And you must know that if voluntary prayer is recommended at a specific time and voluntary prayer in congregation is permissible, that does not imply the permissibility of a regular congregational prayer that is not prescribed. So distinguish between the two cases"
The Shaykh : So distinguish, the apparent meaning is to distinguish, which is better, because he said, "And you must know"
The reader: Listen
The student: ...
The Shaykh : Ah?
The student: ...
The reader: He said, "In the printed edition, it says: 'Rather, we should distinguish between the two cases'"
The Shaykh : The one we have says, "So distinguish between the two cases"
The reader: "So distinguish between the two cases. This is because gathering for voluntary prayer, or listening to the Qur'an, or the remembrance of Allah, or the like, if it is done occasionally, is good. It is authentically reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he prayed voluntary prayer in congregation occasionally, and that he came out to his Companions, and some of them were reciting while the others were listening, so he sat with them and listened
And the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), when they gathered, would have one of them recite while the others listened
And there are well-known reports regarding the people who sit to study the Book of Allah and recite it, and regarding the people who remember Allah, such as his saying (peace and blessings be upon him)Riyad as-Salihin 1023 "
The Shaykh : And like this today, those who organize themselves in outings or centers or the like, such that they say, for example, "We will all get up at night and pray in congregation," or "We will fast tomorrow," or the like. This is, in reality, an action for which I do not know that it was reported from the Salaf. Rather, it is what the Sufis and their like do, who are misguided in many of their actions.
Second, it leads to the doer performing this act based on the arrangement, which means the aspect of worship and obedience is weakened in him, so he does it because he arranged it. Therefore, I see that they should not do this. Rather, the leader of this center, for example, or this outing, should say, "We should get up at night, perform the late-night prayer, and do such and such." Then, if they get up, there is no blame on them for praying in congregation, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did. But if one arranges it and a person performs this act based on the arrangement he made, as I told you, there must be a weakness in the will to worship, and the doer only wants to carry out this organization. Yes, that is right.
The Shaykh : So distinguish, the apparent meaning is to distinguish, which is better, because he said, "And you must know"
The reader: Listen
The student: ...
The Shaykh : Ah?
The student: ...
The reader: He said, "In the printed edition, it says: 'Rather, we should distinguish between the two cases'"
The Shaykh : The one we have says, "So distinguish between the two cases"
The reader: "So distinguish between the two cases. This is because gathering for voluntary prayer, or listening to the Qur'an, or the remembrance of Allah, or the like, if it is done occasionally, is good. It is authentically reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he prayed voluntary prayer in congregation occasionally, and that he came out to his Companions, and some of them were reciting while the others were listening, so he sat with them and listened
And the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), when they gathered, would have one of them recite while the others listened
And there are well-known reports regarding the people who sit to study the Book of Allah and recite it, and regarding the people who remember Allah, such as his saying (peace and blessings be upon him)
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Any group of people that assemble in one of the Houses of Allah to recite the Book of Allah, learning and teaching it, tranquility will descend upon them, mercy will engulf them, angels will surround them and Allah will make mention of them to those (the angels) in His proximity." [Muslim] .
ما جلس قوم في بيت من بيوت الله يتلون كتاب الله ويتدارسونه بينهم إلا غشيتهم الرحمة ونزلت عليهم السكينة وحفتهم الملائكة وذكرهم الله فيمن عندهThe Shaykh : And like this today, those who organize themselves in outings or centers or the like, such that they say, for example, "We will all get up at night and pray in congregation," or "We will fast tomorrow," or the like. This is, in reality, an action for which I do not know that it was reported from the Salaf. Rather, it is what the Sufis and their like do, who are misguided in many of their actions.
Second, it leads to the doer performing this act based on the arrangement, which means the aspect of worship and obedience is weakened in him, so he does it because he arranged it. Therefore, I see that they should not do this. Rather, the leader of this center, for example, or this outing, should say, "We should get up at night, perform the late-night prayer, and do such and such." Then, if they get up, there is no blame on them for praying in congregation, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did. But if one arranges it and a person performs this act based on the arrangement he made, as I told you, there must be a weakness in the will to worship, and the doer only wants to carry out this organization. Yes, that is right.