Fatwa ID: 02630

Answered by: Maulana Maruf Ahmed

Question

Is there a thing such as being excessive in prayer? Or is it a good thing to pray for a long time? As I take around 10 mins to pray 4 rakah and that is double what people around me take. I have waswas and can also go to extremes and take long times to pray but I don't know if it is praised or looked down upon. Is there an ideal time that should be taken to pray as an example?

Answer

According to Imam Abu Hanifah , it is recommended to lengthen the standing in prayer when praying alone, and this is better than performing many Rakat of salah. [1]

However, the general rule is that even when it comes to worship (including salah), one should burden oneself to an unbearable extent.

Imam Bukhari narrates on the authority of Anas:

“A group of three men came to the houses of the wives of the Prophet asking how the Prophet worshipped (Allah), and when they were informed about that, they considered their worship insufficient and said, “Where are we from the Prophet as his past and future sins have been forgiven.” Then one of them said, “I will offer the prayer throughout the night forever.” The other said, “I will fast throughout the year and will not break my fast.” The third said, “I will keep away from the women and will not marry forever.” Allah’s Apostle came to them and said, “Are you the same people who said, so-and-so? By Allah, I am more submissive to Allah and more afraid of Him than you; yet I fast and break my fast, I do sleep and I also marry women. So he who does not follow my tradition in religion is not from me (not one of my followers).”[2]

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Maulana Maruf Ahmed

Checked and Approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham