Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

As Salaam ali kum!

Having a Tar weeh (ramadan Prayer)is better praying at home alone without any distribuance or in the mosque with Imam,in which form we get more ajar?

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Taravih better at home

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 9.393 Narrated by Zaid bin Thabit

One Ramadan, Allah's Messenger (saws) made a small room with a palm leaf mat. Allah's Messenger (saws) prayed in it for a few nights till the people gathered (to pray the night prayer (Tarawih)) behind him. Then on the fourth night the people did not hear his voice and they thought he (saws) had slept, so some of them started humming in order that he (saws) might come out. The Prophet (saws) then said, "You continued doing what I saw you doing till I was afraid that this (Tarawih prayer) might be enjoined (made obligatory) on you, and if it were enjoined on you, you would not (be able to) continue performing it. Therefore, O people! Perform your (supererogatory) prayers at your homes, for the best (supererogatory) prayer of a person is what is performed at his home except the obligatory (congregational) prayers."

In light of the above absolutely clear guidance of the Messenger of Allah (saws) the supererogatory or voluntary (Nafl or Sunnah) prayers one offers at home earn more reward and are more meritorious than those offered in the mosques, except of course the five obligatory prayers which are best offered in congregation in the Houses of Allah Subhanah. The Messenger of Allah (saws) almost always offered all his ‘nafl’ or supererogatory prayers in his chambers at home.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan