The Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, has stated that it is important for mosque imams to be knowledgeable in Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) when leading congregational prayers. The Minister made this statement in a Facebook post about imams being well-versed in fiqh. Minister Dr. Shaheem explained that being knowledgeable in fiqh means understanding how to apply Islamic rulings according to the current situation. Highlighting the importance of imams being knowledgeable in fiqh, the Minister shared some examples.
These include starting prayers that have specific times, such as Eid prayers, by standing up and organizing the rows in advance, rather than waiting until the exact time to begin. Additionally, the Minister shared in his post things that imams should be mindful of when leading obligatory prayers. This includes reciting shorter verses as the congregation grows larger and speeding up the prayer if children can be heard crying. He also noted that if there are mosques and houses nearby, using loudspeakers during prayer times can be disruptive to those in nearby mosques and homes. However, the Minister stated that the call to prayer (adhan) should still be amplified to inform many people that the prayer time has begun. The Minister also pointed out that raising one’s voice while reciting the Quran, causing disturbance to others, is prohibited according to hadith.
Similarly, Minister Shaheem requested imams to consider that there may be sick and excused individuals in the congregation who cannot remain in the bowing (ruku) and prostration (sujood) positions for extended periods during night prayers and congregational prayers. Furthermore, shortening the congregation during strong winds or rain, maintaining a moderate and comfortable pace for everyone in normal circumstances, and being focused and humble during prayers are all part of being knowledgeable in fiqh.
While the Minister has called for mosque imams to be knowledgeable in fiqh, there are always public concerns about how some imams conduct prayers in certain mosques.
