A group of the Shia Mujtahids holds that an Ithna-Asheri in...

A group of the Shia Mujtahids holds that an Ithna-Asheri in these days of seclusion of the Imam has a choice to pray either Juma or Dhuhuri; though it is better to pray Dhuhuri also (without Jamaat and without niyyat of Wajib) after Juma. Other group holds that Juma prayer is not Wajib nowadays though it may be prayed, just to get 'thawab'. So, inspite of this difference in theory, both groups are united in practice. Because both pray Juma first, and then pray Dhuhri. And there is no trouble.

Among Sunnis of Uganda, there are 3 groups : Some pray Juma; others Dhuhuri; and a third group prays Juma and Dhuhuri both. Here I should point out an important doctrine of the Shia Ithna-Asheri sect, which if followed by others would eliminate all troubles and bickerings. The Ithna-Asheris say that everyone, if he is not a Mujtahid himself, must follow the ruling of the most learned living Mujtahid.

But no Mujtahid or his follower can condemn the ruling of another Mujtahid, and if there are two Mujtahids praying side by side each should follow his own ruling. This rule takes out the element of personal grudge or hatred from the rules of Sheriat and everyone follows the dictates of his Mujtahid quite freely without any attack from any side.

If the Sunnis of Uganda and the coast of Tanzania adopt this attitude, there will be no room for those who want to exploit the mass hysteria for their own purpose. Q 81 : Give me full particulars if someone finds that they have prayed Eight Rakats in Taraweeh. How he should recover them? A. The Muslims are divided about "Taraweeh". All of them agree that Sunnat or Nafl prayar cannot be prayed with Jamaat (except Salatul-Istisqua). But the Sunnis pray Taraweeh with Jamaat.

This system began in the 14th year of Hijra during the reign of the 2nd Caliph Hadhrat Umar bin Khattab. The incident is narrated in hundreds of books, but I am quoting from 'Sahih' of Imam Bukhari (Kitabu-ut-Taraweeh) :- Abdur Rehman bin Abdul Qari said : I went with Umar to the Mosque in a Ramadhan night and (saw that) the people were praying separately ...

So Umar said, "I think it would be nice if I make them pray with Jamaat behind one Imam." So he decided and gathered them under Ubai bin Kaab.