What should you do if the Imam offers the qunoot supplication due to the corona virus?
Our Shaykh Abu Bilaal Al-Hadhramy- may Allah preserve him- was asked the following question on 25th Rajab1441( 20th March 2020):
The Questioner says : If I pray behind someone who offers the qunoot supplication (due to the corona virus) should I supplicate with him? May Allah bless you.
Answer:
[“إِنَّمَا جُعِلَ الْإِمَامُ لِيُؤْتَمَّ”]
The Imam was only appointed to be followed. [1]
So if he is from the renowned and proficient assessors of complex religious matters (ahl ijtihaad), the Imam of the people and offers the qunoot supplication as a result of his own assessment after examining the matter, then supplicate with him.
Likewise if he is an authority figure from the Muslim authorities and it is feared that if you do not supplicate and raise your hands with him you will be dealt with by force and it will be used against you; if you follow him (in supplication) it is hoped by the permission of Allah there is nothing wrong with this, due to the evidences for following the Imam.
If this is not the case, then no; (do not offer the qunoot supplication with him).
If he is not from the renowned and proficient assessors of complex religious matters (ahl ijtihaad), rather, he is simply someone that approves of all actions (without evidence), an ordinary muslim that introduces into the prayer what he introduces, such as; bid’ah and contradictions to the legislation.
So do not offer the qunoot supplication with him because he has only done so according to his own understanding and failed to return to the Quran, Sunnah or Salaf.
It is not permissible to add to the prayer except with evidence, so do not offer the qunoot supplication with him.
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[1] Narrated by Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) in AlBukhari (378) and Muslim (411)
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Translated by : Abu Sufyaan Saami ibn Daniel Al-Ghaani