[mazabotman]

It all started from the moment a young Hafiz landed at the masjid (Hanafi) I mentioned in my OP, for Tarawih - and he comes from India. So that confirms what Brother abdulwahhab has said. He must be of the extreme Barelwi tendency. In my country, up to now there is no Salaawat even prior to Azaan. After Azaan, yes - BUT that is on an individual basis.

When Salaawat is recited before Iqama, it is made compulsory as everyone present is, in a way, made to participate - whether one likes it or not. Thus it becomes Bid'a. Making a non-obligatory practice compulsory somehow, makes that practice Bid'a. lets not assume that he Berelwi just because he is doing something different. i think you should ask him. India is a very big place, in the south (far south) in the "Mapila" areas Im sure you would find the salawaar read before the adhaan because there is alot of Yemeni influence in those parts & Sri Lanka.

Is iqaamah sunnah or wajib, for us its sunnah so if you say just because its said aloud it becomes wajib because everyone can hear it. sunnah stuff arent always made softly & wajib things are not always made loud. nobody is forcing anybody to make the salawaat, ask to give adhaan & iqamah & leave out the salawaat & then see how they react. & if they ask then say you didnt feel like & since its not sunnah it shouldnt be a problem.