5th August 2018
السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته
Question: Is it permissible for a Hanafi adherent to pray Witr behind the Imāms in Haram during Ramadhān?
الجواب حامداً ومصلياً
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Thank you for your above question. The issue related to a Hanafi praying witr Salāh behind the Imāms of Haram has been a matter of contention between jurists. Principally, witr in the Hanafi madhab is read in three rakāts without a break of salām in between like Maghrib Salāh, henceforth making salām in between breaks the Salāh. The Imāms in Haram usually pray three rak’āts with two salāms; the first one after the second rak’āt and the second one after the third. Going by this principle, a Hanafi cannot pray witr behind the Haram Imāms as his Salāh breaks when they make salām after the second reak’āt. If however an Imām of another madhab prays three rakā’ts with one salām at the end, as practiced by certain Shafi’ee scholars [even if they read with one sitting; qa’dah akheerah, at the end only and do Qunūt after the rukū’] then it is permissible.[1]
However many contemporary jurists have permitted reading witr behind the Haram Imāms on the basis that the Imām’s madhab is taken into consideration as opposed to the followers. In other words, if the Salāh is valid according to the Imām’s madhab then so will be the followers irrespective if they follow a madhab different to that of the Imām because primarily it is the Imām’s status of Salāh that is considered since he is the one leading them.[2] Many advocate this view so to maintain unity amongst the ummah.
As both positions are valid, one has the discretion to follow either of the two opinions; the original opinion of impressibility or the permissibility to pray behind them. Some even recommend to read witr behind them and thereafter repeat it due to the differences in the intention made as witr according to the other madhabs is sunnah whilst according to the Hanafies it is wājib.
Allah Knows Best
| Written by:
Moulana Anas Mulla JKN Fatawa Department |
Reviewed by:
Mufti Abdul Waheed JKN Fatawa Department |
Attested by:
Shaykh Mufti Saiful Islam JKN Fatawa Department |
بِشَافِعِيٍّ) مَثَلًا (لَمْ يَفْصِلْهُ بِسَلَامٍ) لَا إنْ فَصَلَهُ (عَلَى الْأَصَحِّ) فِيهِمَا لِلِاتِّحَادِ وَإِنْ اخْتَلَفَ الِاعْتِقَادُ [1
قَوْلُهُ بِشَافِعِيٍّ مَثَلًا دَخَلَ فِيهِ مَنْ يَعْتَقِدُ قَوْلَ الصَّاحِبَيْنِ، وَكَذَا كُلُّ مَنْ يَقُولُ بِسُنِّيَّتِهِ. قَوْلُ عَلَى الْأَصَحِّ فِيهِمَا أَيْ فِي جَوَازِ أَصْلِ الِاقْتِدَاءِ فِيهِ بِشَافِعِيٍّ وَفِي اشْتِرَاطِ عَدَمِ فَصْلِهِ، خِلَافًا لِمَا فِي الْإِرْشَادِ مِنْ أَنَّهُ لَا يَجُوزُ أَصْلًا بِإِجْمَاعِ أَصْحَابِنَا لِأَنَّهُ اقْتِدَاءُ الْمُفْتَرِضِ بِالْمُتَنَفِّلِ، وَخِلَافًا لِمَا قَالَهُ الرَّازِيّ مِنْ أَنَّهُ يَصِحُّ وَإِنْ فَصَلَهُ وَيُصَلِّي مَعَهُ بَقِيَّةَ الْوِتْرِ لِأَنَّ إمَامَهُ لَمْ يَخْرُجُ بِسَلَامِهِ عِنْدَهُ وَهُوَ مُجْتَهِدٌ فِيهِ كَمَا لَوْ اقْتَدَى بِإِمَامٍ قَدْ رَعَفَ.
قُلْت: وَمَعْنَى كَوْنِهِ لَمْ يَخْرُجْ بِسَلَامِهِ أَنَّ سَلَامَهُ لَمْ يُفْسِدْ وِتْرَهُ لِأَنَّ مَا بَعْدَهُ يُحْسَبُ مِنْ الْوِتْرِ، فَكَأَنَّهُ لَمْ يَخْرُجْ مِنْهُ، وَهَذَا بِنَاءٌ عَلَى قَوْلِ الْهِنْدُوَانِيُّ بِقَرِينَةِ قَوْلِهِ كَمَا لَوْ اقْتَدَى إلَخْ، وَمُقْتَضَاهُ أَنَّ الْمُعْتَبَرَ رَأْيُ الْإِمَامِ فَقَطْ، وَهَذَا يُخَالِفُ مَا قَدَّمْنَاهُ آنِفًا عَنْ نُوحٍ أَفَنْدِي.
(رد المحتار علي الدر المختار، كتاب الصلاة، باب الوتر والنوافل، جلد ٢، ص٨)
وَصَرَّحَ بَعْضُ الْمَشَايِخِ كَمَا فِي شَرْحِ مُنْيَةِ الْمُصَلِّي بِأَنَّهُ لَا يَنْوِي فِي الْوِتْرِ أَنَّهُ وَاجِبٌ لِلِاخْتِلَافِ فِي وُجُوبِهِ فَظَهَرَ بِهَذَا أَنَّ الْمَذْهَبَ الصَّحِيحَ صِحَّةُ الِاقْتِدَاءِ بِالشَّافِعِيِّ فِي الْوِتْرِ إنْ لَمْ يُسَلِّمْ عَلَى رَأْسِ الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ وَعَدَمُهَا إنْ سَلَّمَ
(البحر الرائق، كتاب الصلاة، باب الوتر والنوافل، جلد ٢، ص٤٣)
وَلَوْ صَلَّى الْوِتْرَ بِمَنْ يَقْنُتُ فِي الْوِتْرِ بَعْدَ الرُّكُوعِ فِي الْقَوْمَةِ وَالْمُقْتَدِي لَا يَرَى ذَلِكَ تَابَعَهُ فِيهِ. هَكَذَا فِي فَتَاوَى قَاضِي خَانْ.
(الفتاوي الهندية، كتاب الصلاة، الباب الثامن في صلاة الوتر، جلد١، ص١١١)
[2] See the link below