Question: A mass Maghrib and Duaa was arranged to take place at a particular marketplace in Johannesburg South over the weekend. There was nasheeds, nazms & qiraat by a qaari, all this scheduled for from 16:00 to 18:00. A Maulana was expected to perform the Maghrib Salaah, as well as the Duaa from what I understand, from the poster’s details.
Are such mass salaahs and duaas and now added qiraat and nazams allowed? If not, then what is the alternative for this?
ANSWER: No, such mass messes are not permissible. Such mass messes even in the Masaajid are not permissible.
We have written on some of these mass functions. View the articles on our website.
The only alternative is that which is found in the Sunnah of Nabi (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam). On the night of Badr, Nabi (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) himself engrossed and exerted himself in Nafl Salaah and Du’a. Nabi (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) didn’t congregate the Sahaabah (Radhiyallahu anhum) for a mass Du’a, though they were ill-equipped and outnumbered by the Kuffaar. Everyone did his own personal and individual Ibaadat. Then came the astonishing, marvelling and flabbergasting Divine Nusrat of Allah Ta’ala the next day on the Meedaan (battlefield), as the Badriyeen Sahaabah (Radhiyallahu anhum) reported after the battle. Some said they merely lifted their broken stick and the head of the Kaafir had already rolled! The Malaaikah helped the Muslims fight the Kuffaar.
The alternative is for Muslims to resort to individual A’maal. If one can wake up at night for Tahajjud, then do so and make Du’a for Gaza. Otherwise, at any time of the day, make Du’a for Gaza individually. Take out a few minutes and perform two Rak’aats Nafl Salaah followed by Du’a for Gaza. Make sure all our Salaahs, Zakaat, etc. are in order and up to date. We can assure that these methods are ‘tried and tested’ and will surely attract Allah’s Mercy. New methods such as the mass messes, or screaming ‘VIVA, VIVA’ to a mixed crowd of Kuffaar hold no Islamic weight. Those methods are Bid’ah, and every Bid’ah is Dhalaalah (deviation), and every deviation belongs in Jahannam, as per the Hadith Shareef.