Q: Salaah-194: The Imaam and followers engage in congregational du'aa after every four Rakaahs of the Taraaweeh salaah. Is this according to the Sunnah? When the Imaam makes the du'aa loudly, people cannot recite anything else even if they want to. Can only du'aa be made during this time and is Dhikr and Tasbeeh prohibited? The people then label those who recite Qur'aan or make other Adhkaar during this time as Deobandis. Please clarify.

Answer: The practice of making congregational du'aa during the Tarwiha periods conflicts with the Sunnah. During this time. the Shari'ah states that one may engage in Tasbeeh. recitation of the Qur'aan, perform Nafl salaah or just remain silent. It is therefore wrong to stipulate that only one act is necessary. There is no benefit in creating obstacles when the Shari'ah permits something and this is actually tantamount to preventing people from Dhikr, recitation of the Qur'aan, Durood, etc.

It is due to sheer ignorance that people should attribute the situation to a Deoband-Berelwi difference because even the widely accepted Berelwi book Bihaare Shari'ah states that a person has the choice during this time to either remain silent, recite the Kalimah, recite the Qur'aan, recite Durood or perform Nafl salaah. It is however Makrooh to perform Nafl salaah in Jamaa'ah. It also states that the following Tasbeeh may also be recited:
Duaa on pg. 186 Vol.2 Fataawaa Rahimiyyah.

Fatawa Rahimiyyah vol.2