The Principle of Leaving the Better Option for a Greater Benefit

Shaykh Al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah rahimahullah said: “...Nevertheless, the correct view is that something which is normally not recited aloud may sometimes be recited aloud when there is a greater benefit in doing so. Therefore, it is permissible for the imam to recite aloud at times, for example, in order to teach the people praying behind him. It is also permissible for those praying to say short phrases aloud on occasion. It is also permissible for a person to leave what is better in order to bring hearts together and maintain unity, out of fear that people may be driven away from something beneficial. This is similar to what the Prophet ﷺ did when he left the Ka‘bah without rebuilding it upon the foundations laid by Ibrāhīm. This was because Quraysh were still new to Islam and he feared that doing so would repel them. He therefore considered the benefit of unity and harmony to be more important than rebuilding the Ka‘bah upon the foundations of Ibrāhīm. Likewise, when Ibn Mas‘ūd completed the prayer (as four) behind ‘Uthmān and was criticised for doing so, he was asked about it. He replied: ‘Disagreement is evil.’ For this reason, the imams, such as Imām Aḥmad and others, explicitly stated that this principle applies to matters such as the Basmalah, joining the Witr prayers, and other matters in which one leaves the better option for something permissible but less preferable. This is done in order to maintain harmony among those praying behind the imam, or to teach them the Sunnah, and similar reasons.” [Majmū‘ Al-Fatāwā, 22/436–437] Source: https://t.me/masjidsahabah/2391