[Q 538] Ruling on Nafl Jama‘at

QUESTION:

Is reading Salat ul Tasbeeh with Jamaat allowed?

ANSWER:

Salat al-Tasbeeh is a Nafl (optional) prayer. There are two situations regarding performing Nafl prayer in congregation (Jama‘at).

If the congregation for Nafl prayers is held with Tada‘i (tada‘i — formally inviting and gathering people and arranging it as a congregational event), then apart from Tarawih and the prayers of Kusuf (solar eclipse) and Istisqa (prayer for rain), performing other Nawafil (optional prayers) in congregation in this arranged manner is Makruh Tanzihi (mildly disliked) and خلافِ اولیٰ (contrary to what is preferable), but it is not Na-ja’iz (impermissible) nor a sin. In today’s time, when people are already becoming distant from the religion, they should not be prevented from offering these Nawafil in congregation, because it is not without benefit — as in this way many individuals will gain the opportunity to perform these Nawafil; otherwise, if prevented, people may not perform them at all.

If the Nafl prayer is performed in congregation without Tada‘i (i.e., without formally arranging and inviting people for it), then by consensus it is permissible without any dislike.

It is mentioned in Fatawa Ridawiyyah:
“Besides Tarawih, Kusuf, and Istisqa, regarding congregation for Nawafil, the well-known and established position of our Imams رضي الله تعالى عنهم, as recorded in the major books of the Madhhab, is that without Tada‘i there is no harm, and with Tada‘i it is Makruh. Tada‘i means calling one another and gathering people, and it normally necessitates a large congregation. In summary: with two followers it is permissible by consensus; with five it is Makruh by agreement; regarding three or four there is difference of transmission among the Mashayikh (scholars), and the more correct view is that with three there is no Karahah (dislike), and with four there is. Thus, the chosen position is that if, besides the Imam, there are four or more, then there is Karahah; otherwise not. Furthermore, the more apparent view is that this Karahah is only Tanzihi (mildly disliked), meaning contrary to what is preferable due to opposing inherited practice, not Tahrimi (prohibitively disliked) such that it would be sinful or forbidden.”

(Fatawa Ridawiyyah, Vol. 7, pp. 430–431, Raza Foundation, Lahore)

Answered by: Usman Madani (Ask Mufti scholar)
Translated answer
Date: 13th February 2026.