Nafl prayers in congregation

Question

Performing other nafl prayers — apart from the eclipse prayer (kusuf), tarawih and [the prayer for rain] istisqa’ — in congregation by way of calling people together (bi-l-tada‘i) is makruh; by “tada‘i” is meant the presence of four followers, as mentioned in “Shami” and elsewhere. Does this ruling apply both to Ramadan and outside Ramadan, or only outside Ramadan? In particular, is it makruh or not to pray tahajjud and awwabin in congregation in blessed Ramadan?

Answer

Their congregation remains makruh as before. [The jurists] have written that a second congregation in the mosque is makruh [when held] by way of calling people together (‘ala sabil al-tada‘i); one interpretation of this is that [it is held] with adhan and iqama. Thus in some books of fiqh the expression “in the original form” (‘ala al-hay’a al-ula)

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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