A Global Prayer

Time to time I get emotionally impressive messages, that the entire Muslim Ummah around the globe, should simultaneously fast or make Du'a at a pre-appointed time, for the betterment of the Ummah, or to help Muslims in Palestine or Syria or to get rid of CAA or NPR or similar issues.

The matter is presented in an emotionally appealing manner, and each and every Muslim becomes enthusiastic to fast or to pray or to do Du'a.

But as Muslims and as followers of the Prophet ﷺ, we have to follow what he has taught us. My feelings or anyone's sentiments won't justify any action even if it seems nice and attractive.

The Prophet ﷺ came to teach us religious and spiritual matters, and Allaah ﷻ has completed and perfected the Deen during his life time.

Hence, any good deed must be practiced as he taught. And introducing any action which is not in the Quran or sunnah is considered as introducing something new in Deen, which is Bidah. However, most of the time it is easy for the people to identify this type of Bidah and avoid it.

But the confusion starts when the action in its origin is good, and proven by the Prophet ﷺ; but the people add a specific time, or number, or description, or condition, etc to the originally approved act, then the act becomes wrong and comes under the definition of Bid'ah. The act itself is allowed but the condition which is added to that is not proved in Shariah, hence it becomes Bid'ah.

For example, takbeer, prayer, dua, reciting surah Fatihah etc, all are allowed. A person can do whenever, however, and as many numbers as he wants. But if it is planned that a certain time with certain numbers, certain way, in certain forms etc, Takbeer should be said or Dua should be performed, or surah Fatihah should be recited, then it becomes Bid'ah due to the added conditions which is not practiced by the Prophet ﷺ and his beloved Sahabah, who were the best Muslims of this Ummah.

There is no such evidence that the Prophet ﷺ or Sahabah or any of the 4 great Imams requested the Muslims to single out a time for making Takbeer, or doing Dua, or fasting, or doing Zikr in certain numbers, hence we must avoid doing it with such conditions, though it seems very attractive.

Yes, we as individuals are always asked to make du'a and worship Allaah ﷻ and spend time in good deeds as much as possible.

Ibn 'Asakir reported: Malik ibn Anas, may Allah have mercy on him, said, "The Sunnah is like the Ark of Noah. Whoever boards it will be saved, and whoever does not board it will drown." Source: Tārīkh Dimashq 12275

عن ابن عساكر قَالَ مَالِك بن أنس رحمه الله : السَّنَةُ سَفِينَةُ نُوحٍ مَنْ رَكِبَهَا نجََا وَمَنْ تخََلفََّ عَنْهَا غَرَ قَ تاريخ دمشق لابن عساك ر 12275

May Allaah ﷻ make us to be steadfast on the right path and follow the Sunnah in all walks of our lives, and ease our matters. Aameen.

Sheikh Abdus Salam al-Madani

Founder Aspire College of Excellence in Chennai and Bangalore

Ameer Jamiat Ahle Hadith Chennai

President of Ulema e Ahle Hadith Telangana