RAMADAN: Between Tarawiih and the Length of Quranic Chapters or Verses |By Morufu Smith
RAMADAN: Between Tarawiih and the Length of Quranic Chapters or Verses | Morufu Smith.
Tarawiih are couplets of superrogatory prayers Muslims observe during the nights in the month of Ramadan. It is usually observed in a couplet of two Rakat in five times. It is an important part of worships during Ramadan and Muslims are encouraged to observe Tarawiih.
If you are a lazy Muslim, you will always find Tarawiih a difficult task. Some Muslims who observe the prayers as a matter of necessity abhor standing too long on a Rakat. Yours sincerely is one of those who don’t feel at ease standing too long on a Rakat. If as an Imam you’re overtaken by the exuberance of your versatility in Quranic recitation and you start to recite a lengthiest chapter like Baqarah, I won’t hesitate to leave the congregation and do a solo observance of Tarawiih. Some Imams are so much in haste that they would recite shortest chapters or verses like Ikhlas, Kawthar or Asr. I don’t like this ‘sogbale’ kind of prayers that would take five minutes to finish five couplets of Tarawiih prayers.
However, I have learnt over they years that an Imam blessed with a voice that one can lick like sweets can hold his congregation spellbound no matter the length of the chapter or verse he recites. When you pray behind an Imam with a sonorous voice, reciting them in moderate pitch, the words of the chapters or verses sink into you even if you don’t understand the meaning that you lose sight of the length of the recitation. You also will have the benefit of learning and memorising some words of the chapters or verses through the fascinating recitation.
I remember that I memorised the following verse: Ina rabakumu lahu ladhi alaka samaawaati walardi…, etc, as a congregant behind Baba Mufti Nasaj of Oke Oluokun Ibadan (may Allah be pleased with his soul). Baba Nasaj had such a voice that would calm your nerves and sooth your soul when he recited during prayers. We lost a gem in Arabic and Islamic scholarship in Baba Mufti Nasaj.
Therefore, I admonish modern day Imams to learn to deploy sweet voices when they lead prayers as the congregants are sure to feel at ease to stand long on a Rakat. Or, the Imams should recite less lengthy chapters and verses during prayers to consider sevof their congregants who may be having health issues that don’t call for standing too long. I think there is a hadith of the Prophet (peace of Allah remain with him) to the effect that we must not make worships difficult for Muslims so that they don’t feel discouraged.
May Allah accept our worships and supplications in this blessed month of Ramadan and beyond. Ma Salam!
