Ruling on saying du’aa’ after each two rak’ahs of Taraweeh..

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

What is the ruling on saying du’aa’ between one tasleem and the next by saying “Subhaanaka Rabbana wa bi hamdika Allaahumma ighfir lana (Glory and praise be to You our Lord; O Allaah, forgive us)”?.

Praise be to Allah.

There is no basis in the Sunnah for saying du’aa’ between one salaam and the other during Taraweeh prayer by saying “Subhaanaka Rabbana wa bi hamdika Allaahumma ighfir lana (Glory and praise be to You our Lord; O Allaah, forgive us)”, and neither the imam or those praying behind him are obliged to do that, because worship is governed by the principle that nothing is permitted except that which was prescribed by the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). Constantly doing a particular act of worship at a particular time without any evidence for that comes under the heading of bid’ah or innovation.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever does an action that is not part of this matter of ours (Islam) will have it rejected.” Agreed upon.

This great dhikr – “Subhaanaka Rabbana wa bi hamdika Allaahumma ighfir li (Glory and praise be to You our Lord; O Allaah, forgive me)” – is something that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to say when bowing and prostrating. Al-Bukhaari (784) and Muslim (484) narrated that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to say when bowing and prostrating, “Subhaanaka Rabbana wa bi hamdika Allaahumma ighfir li (Glory and praise be to You our Lord; O Allaah, forgive me )” following the command given by the Qur’aan.

What is meant by following the command given by the Qur’aan is that he would do what was enjoined upon him in the Qur’aan, where Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“When there comes the Help of Allah (to you, O Muhammad against your enemies) and the Conquest (of Makkah).

2. And you see that the people enter Allaah’s religion (Islam) in crowds.

3. So glorify the Praises of your Lord, and ask His forgiveness. Verily, He is the One Who accepts the repentance and Who forgives”

[al-Nasr 110:1-3]

See how the Sunnah has been abandoned in this posture of the prayer, and how the people adhere to innovations!

Another innovation which is done during Taraweeh is when the people say: “Salaat al-qiyaam, athaabakum Allaah ((It is) time for qiyaam prayer, may Allaah reward you)”, and when they say between each two rak’ahs, “Allaahumma salli wa sallim ‘ala sayyidina Muhammad (O Allaah, send blessings and peace upon our master Muhammad) in a loud voice, and they recite Soorat al-Ikhlaas and al-Mu’awwidhatayn between each two rak’ahs, or the imam says “Subhaan Allaah (Glory be to Allaah)”and the congregation behind him responds by saying, “Subhaan Allaah wa bi hamdihi, subhaan Allaah il-‘Azeem (Glory and praise be to Allaah, Glory be to Allaah the Almighty).” None of these things were narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), hence the Standing Committee issued a fatwa to the effect that they are innovations and bid’ahs.

And Allaah knows best

Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 7/207-210.

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