Can one Imam lead two Tarawih prayers?
The question, as received
Can one Imam perform taraweeh two times and lead two different jamaats in two different masjids, one after the other? [published as received]
The answer
It is not permissible for one Imam to lead two separate congregations for the full length of Tarawih prayer.
Fiqh basis
Imam Kasani (d. 587 A.H) notes that the Tarawih is classified as a special Sunnah prayer with a specific way of performance.i Imam Kasani further states that if the Imam led the first congregation it would be considered as fulfilling the Sunnah, however, when if the same Imam was to lead a second congregation, the Imam’s Salah would be classified as Nafl, whilst the congregation’s Salah would be Sunnah. This would result in the Imam’s Salah being of a weaker rank and strength than the congregation, making their Salah being weaker Therefore, the Salah of the congregants will be stronger than the Salah of the Imam. This will prevent them from validly following this particular Imam.ii
Following can only take place when the strength is equal or where the Imam is stronger in rank. When the congregation’s Salah is stronger, there is more emphasis and greater caution in their Salah than that of the Imam. This will result in what the Fuqaha describe as Bina al-Qawi ala al-Da’if.This refers to a concept that something of weak foundation cannot be the basis for something stronger than it. The Imam’s Salah is the foundation in congregation and the Asl; everyone else is Tabi’to the Imam. The Imam is the one leading the representation to Almighty Allah. If the Imam’s Salah is of a weaker rank, that will be a reversal of roles and not a fair or equal representation in front of Allah Ta’ala.
Imam Kashgari (d. 550 A.H) further corroborates this reasoning and states that the 3rd century scholars from Iraq, Abu Bakr Al-Iskaf (d. 352 A.H.) and from Balkh, Abu Layth al Samarkandi (d. 372 A.H) both reason that the Salah of the second Masjid will not be valid if the Imam performed full twenty in the first Masjid. The Salah which is being performed by the Imam is of a lower level and rank compared to the Salah of the congregation in the second Masjid. iii
Al-Tahtawi (d. 1231 AH) states that it is Makruh for one to lead the Tarawih prayer twice in one night, and the Fatwa is on this position. This is because a Sunna is not to be repeated in one time, hence the second prayer would be considered Nafl.
Al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya states that it is not permitted for one to lead Tarawih prayers in two separateal Mosques, in a complete manner.
This ruling is also documented by the great contemporary jurist Mufti Radha al-Huq (Hafizahullah), who states that if the Imam was to perform ten Rak’at in one Masjid, and thereafter perform the remaining ten in a different Masjid, then Imam and congregation’s ten Rak’at would be valid. However, if he performed twenty in both, then the second Masjid’s Sunnah will not be performed.iv
And Allah knows best.
Maulana Mohammed Ubaydah Badat
Reviewed and approved by Mufti Faraz Adam
References
iولَوْ نَوى الصَّلاةَ مُطْلَقًا، أوْ نَوى التَّطَوُّعَ، قالَ بَعْضُ المَشايِخِ: لا يَجُوزُ؛ لِأنَّها سُنَّةٌ والسُّنَّةُ لا تَتَأدّى بِنِيَّةِ مُطْلَقِ الصَّلاةِ، أوْ نِيَّةِ التَّطَوُّعِ واسْتَدَلُّوا بِما رَوى الحَسَنُ عَنْ أبِي حَنِيفَةَ أنَّ رَكْعَتَيْ الفَجْرِ لا تَتَأدّى إلّا بِنِيَّةِ السُّنَّةِ، وقالَ عامَّةُ مَشايِخِنا: إنّ التَّراوِيحَ وسائِرَ السُّنَنِ تَتَأدّى بِمُطْلَقِ النِّيَّةِ؛ ولِأنَّها وإنْ كانَتْ سُنَّةً لا تَخْرُجُ عَنْ كَوْنِها نافِلَةً، والنَّوافِلُ تَتَأدّى بِمُطْلَقِ النِّيَّةِ إلّا أنَّ الِاحْتِياطَ أنْ يَنْوِيَ التَّراوِيحَ، أوْ سُنَّةَ الوَقْتِ، أوْ قِيامَ رَمَضانَ احْتِرازًا عَنْ مَوْضِعِ الخِلافِ
iiلا يُصَلِّي إمامٌ واحِدٌ التَّراوِيحَ فِي مَسْجِدَيْنِ فِي كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ عَلى الكَمالِ ولا لَهُ فِعْلٌ ولا يُحْتَسَبُ التّالِي مِن التَّراوِيحِ، وعَلى القَوْمِ أنْ يُعِيدُوا؛ لِأنَّ صَلاةَ إمامِهِمْ نافِلَةٌ، وصَلاتُهُمْ سُنَّةٌ والسُّنَّةُ أقْوى فَلَمْ يَصِحَّ الِاقْتِداءُ؛ لِأنَّ السُّنَّةَ لا تَتَكَرَّرُ فِي وقْتٍ واحِدٍ، وما صَلّى فِي المَسْجِدِ الأوَّلِ مَحْسُوبٌ، ولَيْسَ عَلى القَوْمِ أنْ يُعِيدُوا ولا
بَأْسَ لِغَيْرِ الإمامِ أنْ يُصَلِّيَ التَّراوِيحَ فِي مَسْجِدَيْنِ؛ لِأنَّهُ اقْتِداءُ المُتَطَوِّعِ بِمَن يُصَلِّي السُّنَّةَ، وأنَّهُ جائِزٌ كَما لَوْ صَلّى المَكْتُوبَةَ ثُمَّ أدْرَكَ الجَماعَةَ ودَخَلَ فِيها واَللَّهُ أعْلَمُ.
iii: ولو أم في التراويح مرتين فى مسجد واحد … وإن في المسجدين اختلف فيه حكى
أبو الليث: عن أبي بكر الاسكاف أنه لا يجوز يعنى لا يجوز تراويح أهل المسجد الثاني واختاره
(شرح منية ألمصلي ج 1 ص 205 ط دار الكتب العلمية)
.
iv: صورت مسئولہ میں ایک مسجد میں دس رکعات اور دوسری مسجد میں دس رکعات پڑھانا جائز ہے اور تراویح کی سنت ادا ہو جائے گی ، ہاں ہر ایک مسجد میں ۲۰ رکعات پڑھائے تو دوسری مسجد والوں کی سنت ادا نہ ہوگی ۔ ملاحظہ ہو فتاوی ہندیہ میں ہے
(فتاوى دار العلوم زكريا ج 2 ص 488 ط كراشي )
Based on the Hanafi school and on the question as it was asked. Another mufti may reach a different conclusion. Read the disclaimer.