Can I Pray Voluntary Prayers in Congregation with My Wife?
Hanafi Fiqh
Answered by Ustadh Sufyan Qufi
Question
Is it permissible for a husband to lead his wife in tahajud prayer?
Answer
In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,
I pray this finds you in the best of states.
It is permissible and not disliked for a woman to pray behind her husband for a voluntary prayer (i.e., a nafl prayer such as the Tahajud). [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]
It has been established that Sayyiduna ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) has allowed companions (may Allah be pleased with them all) to pray behind him the Witr prayer outside of Ramadan. [Tahawi, Sharh Ma’ani al-Athar]
Nonetheless, it is not from the Sunna to pray the voluntary prayers in congregation except during Ramadan. [Ibid.]
Thus, a couple praying in such a way is not obtaining the reward of praying in congregation. [Ibid.]
Important Consideration
If this becomes a habit, and more than three people follow the Imam, then it becomes disliked to do so.
Related:
Tahajjud Prayer: How To Pray it, When to Pray It and Its Merits
Can I Lead My Wife in the Tahajjud, Duha and Awwabin Prayers? [Shafi’i]
And Allah knows best.
Wassalam
[Ustadh] Sufyan Qufi
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Ustadh Sufyan Qufi is an advanced seeker of knowledge, originally from Algeria, who grew up in France. He began searching far and wide for answers to the fundamental questions of life and was disappointed at the answers he found. Then he connected with various traditional teachers and gradually connected with SeekersGuidance. He embarked on his journey of learning through the various teachers at SeekersGuidance, including his mentor Shaykh Faraz Rabbani. He studied numerous texts in Islamic Law, Theology, Hadith, and other areas with Shaykh Faraz Rabbani and other teachers, including Shaykh Abdurrahman al-Sha‘ar, Shaykh Ali Hani, and others. He is an active instructor at SeekersGuidance and answers questions through the SeekersGuidance Answers Service.
