SHARIAH’S STANCE ON BROADCASTING ARAFAH DUA’ ‘LIVE’

Question:

What is the Shariah’s view on live duas broadcast from Arafah? Is there a Shar’i basis for such a practice?

Answer (by Mujlisul Ulama): 

Far from there being a Shar’i basis, the basis for this new bid’ah can be found in the nafs. It is a shaitaani ploy to ruin Ibaadat with riya by the projection of an act having an ostensible outer facade of ‘ibaadat’ whilst in fact it is a display of shirk-e-sagheer (minor shirk) for which Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) expressed considerable fear.

The live, loud and public exhibition of dua in this manner is in violation of the Qur’aanic command: “Supplicate to (make dua to) your Rabb in humility and in silence. Verily, He does not love those who transgress the limits.” (Al-A’raaf, Aayat 55) The nusoos– Qur’aanic and Hadith – commanding silent dua with humility and in privacy are numerous. Loud dua and its vociferous proclamation by means of devices are transgression of the limits mentioned in this Aayat. The meaning of ‘Allah does not love’, is a statement of Allah’s Wrath on those who transgress the limits which He has prescribed.

This ‘live’, canned dua is an expression of ostentation and in total conflict with the spirit and teaching of the Shariah. Dua is a silent and private conversation which the bandah (slave) has with his Rabb. It is a secret between the slave and his Master. It is not a slogan for vociferous acquittal in the public domain.

Ibaadat is only what has been handed to the Ummah reliably from the Salafus Saaliheen of the Khairul Quroon era. There is no basis in the Sunnah for such ostentatious projection of dua as this newfangled ‘live’ dua. In fact it is not a dua.