Hadrat Madani’s performing nafl prayers in congregation

Question

Shaykh al-Islam Hadrat Madani ﵀ apparently used to pray nafl in congregation. Thus, in the “Maktubat”, vol. 3, p. 216, at the end of letter no. 78, he writes: “(After tarawih) at one o’clock [they] again stand for nafl prayers, and at a quarter to three, having finished, [they] occupy themselves with suhur.” From what Hadrat Madani ﵀ wrote it appears that at night he performed nafl prayers in congregation, and people prayed behind the spiritual guide for blessing and good fortune (tabarrukan wa tayammunan).

Answer

I do not know the actual reality of this. However, Hadrat Madani ﵀ had a complete grasp of hadith and fiqh and, as far as possible, acted according to the sunna. It is possible that he made the niyya of nafl alone and recited aloud, or that he also included two or three [people] in it, for which there is permission in the words of the jurists as well.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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