Should they pray Taraweeh in the mosque even though the people there insist on some innovations?
Question We have a problem with some of the common folk because when the imam says the salaam at the end of two rak’ahs of qiyaam [Taraweeh], they raise their voices in saying tasbeeh (“Subhaan Allaah wa bi hamdihi Subhaan Allaah al-‘Azeem/Glory and praise be to Allah, glory to Allah the Almighty”), and they do…
Question
Praise be to Allah.
In the answer to question number
50718, we stated that what
some people do of reciting dhikr in unison after every two rak’ahs of
Taraweeh is an innovation which was not done by the Messenger (blessings and
peace of Allah be upon him) or by any of his Companions.
You have done well to teach the people the Sunnah and
denounce innovation. What they should have done is return to the teaching of
the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), which is the best
and most perfect of guidance.
You should continue to pray with them and call them to the
Sunnah, and you will find, with Allaah’s help, some who accept the truth and
are keen to follow it, even if others reject it. “But if these disbelieve
therein (the Book, Al‑Hukm and Prophethood), then, indeed We have entrusted
it to a people (such as the Companions of Prophet Muhammad
صلى الله عليه وسلم) who are not
disbelievers therein” [al-An’aam 6:89].
But if you find that the people in the mosque are stubborn
and arrogant and reject the truth, then if you can pray in another mosque
where the people are keen to follow the Sunnah and to avoid innovation, that
is better. But if that is not possible, then your praying in this mosque is
good, and you have done what is required of you and perhaps they will be
guided. “(The preachers) said: ‘In order to be free from guilt before
your Lord (Allaah), and perhaps they may fear Allaah’” [al-A’raaf 7:164].
If the followers of the Sunnah were to forsake the mosque
because of such innovations, that would be a cause of innovation increasing
and becoming more widespread, and it would lead to the Sunnah being erased
and dying out. So you have to pray in the mosque and explain the Sunnah to
the people, adhering in that to the advice of the Prophet (blessings and
peace of Allah be upon him) to be kind and gentle to the one who is
ignorant.
May Allah help you to do all that is good.
And Allah knows best.