Imaam Giving Advice After Fardh Salaah

In general circumstances, unnecessarily lengthening the time between the fardh and Sunnah Salaah is Makrooh and causes a decrease in the reward of the Sunnah Salaah.  However, there is leeway given when done for a valid shar’i reason.  The importance of educating the public cannot be overlooked nor denied especially in this era considering the amount of ignorance the general masses are enveloped in. A large portion of the Musallies are ignorant of basic necessary Masaail pertaining to the fundamentals of Deen such as Salaah, Zakaat, fasting, etc. A great portion of Musallis neglect the Sunnah and Nafl Salaah and leave the Masjid immediately after the Fardh Salaah not knowing the importance of performing the Sunnah Salaah. This unfortunate reality is increasing rapidly. The ideal solution would be to conduct programs in which Deen could be taught at some other time e.g. after the Sunnah Salaah, after the Fajr or Asr Salaah as there is no Sunnats after these Salaah, etc. In places where it is possible to practice on the ideal, they should practice upon it. However, in many communities and Masaajid, it is difficult to practice on the ideal, considering that the Masaajid are empty during those times and the general masses are not willing to dedicate nor take out special time to learn Deen other than the little time they are in the Masjid. The Imāms due to their concern for the wellbeing of the Deen in the community, direct their best interests in advising and teaching Deen to the community, hoping in this way for Deen to come alive in the Muslim community.  Likewise, the followers avail themselves by sitting and listening to what the Imām has to say.  In addition, the time after salāh is a time where everybody is gathered and it is a golden opportunity to educate the masses. Therefore, during this limited time the Imaam finds to educate them, he tries to maximize it in an effective way by teaching to them Deen. Furthermore, This practice is not something that is foreign, rather we find such a practice in the Ahaadeeth

The following is a narration recorded in Saheeh-AlBukhari (1/117)

عَنْ سَمُرَةَ بْنِ جُنْدَبٍ، قَالَ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا صَلَّى صَلاَةً أَقْبَلَ عَلَيْنَا بِوَجْهِهِ

( ج1 ص117 – صحيح البخاري – باب يستقبل الإمام الناس إذا سلم )

Translation; Samurah Bin Jundub Radhiyallah-anhu mentioned that when the messenger ﷺ would perform Salaah (upon the completion of the salaah) he would face towards us.

Allaamah Ayni Rahimahullah in Umdatul-Qari (6/136)  and Haafidh Ibnul Hajar Rahimahullah in Fathul-Baari have mentioned (2/334)

وَالْحكمَة فِي اسْتِقْبَال الْمَأْمُومين أَن يعلمهُمْ مَا كَانُوا يَحْتَاجُونَ إِلَيْهِ كَذَا قيل. قلت: فعلى هَذَا كَانَ يَنْبَغِي  أَن يفعل هَذَا من كَانَ حَاله مثل حَال النَّبِي صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم َمن قصد التَّعْلِيم وَالْمَوْعِظَة

Translation; the wisdom of facing the believers is to educate them of those things which they are in need of. Based on this, it should be appropriate for everyone whose condition and responsibility is like that of the messenger ﷺ (meaning the Ulama) to do this with the intention of Taalim and giving advice.

In another narration recorded by Imaam Bukhari. (1/117) Hadhrat Anas Radhiyallah-anhu has reported to have said;

عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ: أَخَّرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الصَّلاَةَ ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ إِلَى شَطْرِ اللَّيْلِ، ثُمَّ خَرَجَ عَلَيْنَا، فَلَمَّا صَلَّى أَقْبَلَ عَلَيْنَا بِوَجْهِهِ، فَقَالَ: إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ صَلّوْا وَرَقدوا، وَإِنَّكُمْ لَنْ تَزَالُوا فِي صَلاَةٍ مَا انْتَظَرْتُمُ الصَّلاَةَ (ج1 ص117 – صحيح البخاري – باب يستقبل الإمام الناس إذا سلم) 

Translation; one night the Messenger ﷺ delayed the `Isha Salaah until half the night passed and then came to us. Having performed Salaah, he faced us and said, “The people had performed Salaah and slept but you were in the Salaah for as long as you were waiting for it.”

Based on the above, it is permissible to advise and narrate a few masā’il or etiquettes related to Deen after the fardh salāh. At the same time, it is important to take into consideration the late comers to salāh. Therefore, the Imam should keep the advice/announcement as short as possible and in an adequate volume that is loud enough for the congregation to hear and does not overpower the latecomers’ concentration. Furthermore, no one is compelled, obliged or forced to sit for this advice. Whoever amongst the congregation wishes to continue with their Sunnah Salaah are free to do so.