You have mentioned that no more than 3 can participate in a Nafl Jamaat per the Hanafi Madhab. If there are several people in the Masjid, does this mean we need to make separate Jamaats of 4 each?

According to the Hanafi Madhab, no more than 3 people can participate in%0D%0ANafl Salaat together. This does not mean that if there are more people, then%0D%0Aaccordingly several Jamaats of 3 each may gather together. This practice, if%0D%0Acontinued, will lead an innovation. It was not the general practice of%0D%0ARasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) or Sahaaba (Radhiallaahu Anhum) to%0D%0Aperform Nafl Salaat in congregation.%0D%0A%0D%0AIf this practice is done continuously in a way whereby others are invited to%0D%0Aalso participate, then it will be termed as Bid'at. Yes, if it is done very%0D%0Ararely (keeping in mind the restriction of no more than 3 people), then it%0D%0Awill be permissible. As for the restriction of no more than 3 people, this%0D%0Ais found in a Hadith of Hadhrat Anas (Radhiallaahu Anhu) who says that,%0D%0A'Once Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) performed Nafl Salaat and behind%0D%0Ahim stood Anas (Radhiallaahu Anhu), a child and Umm Sulaim (Radhiallaahu%0D%0AAnha).%0D%0A%0D%0AThus, the original position of the Shari'ah is that there should not be any%0D%0ANafl Jamaat. This is an exception to the general rule and should thus be%0D%0Aconfined to the conditions mentioned.%0D%0A%0D%0AEach person may perform as much Nafl he wishes individually. This is the%0D%0Arule of the Hanafi Madhab, and every Hanafi should follow this even if the%0D%0Aother members of the Jamaat are of other Madhabs.%0D%0A%0D%0Aand Allah Ta'ala Knows Best%0D%0A%0D%0Afor: Mufti Ebrahim Desai%0D%0AFATWA DEPT.%0D%0A%0D%0ACHECKED AND APPROVED: Moulana Imraan Vawda