Q.When the Imam is reciting a surah that you are not familiar with during prayer, do you recite a surah of your own or simply listen to the Imam? Do the same rules apply to Taraweh prayer? (from:Muslim)

Time: Sunday August 23, 2009 at 2:23 pm

A. As for Hanafees, they must listen to the Imaam and be silent when the Imaam is reciting (as stated in Bukhari). The Imaams recital and actions count for everyone behind him.

As for our Shafees audience: Imaam Shafi’i states that one can read surah Fatiha in Dhuhr and Asr salaah while behind the Imaam. To read anything in salaah in those portions that the Imaam is reading loud is makruh tahrimi. When the Imaam is soft (e.g. last two rakats of isha, or last rakat of magrib), then only Shafees can read their own surah faitha. Thus, true shafees are making amal (making action) upon both Hadith: the one that states read a surah as well as being silent in the proper time.  (Supposedly Salafees differ on this in that they insist of reading surah Fatiha on their own in all rakats. It would be best to ignore such persons.)

Ml. Ans Shaikh

(Ifta student)