Lesson 38

Congregational prayer

• Congregational prayer in the mosque is an obligatory Sunnah for those who do not have any excuses.

The one who performs this prayer receives great blessings.

• It is preferred for women to pray at home; but if they want to join the

congregational prayer in the mosque, no one should prevent them.

It is a Sunnah to:

• walk calmly to attend the congregational prayer,

• and pray two rak’ahs as a greeting to the mosque on arrival.

The Imam:

• The group is led by the Imam who should be: the one who has memorized the

greatest part of the Qur’an, then the most learned in Islam,

then the one who fears Allah the most, then the eldest, in that order

• The owner of the house is prefered to lead the prayer more than the guests.

• A woman can only lead other women by standing with them in the same row, not

to stand ahead of them.

• If it is a congregational prayer of only two, the Imam and the one being led,

the one being led stands at the right side of the Imam.

• If they are many, all will stand in straight rows behind the Imam:

men, boys and then women

• It is not permissible for the person being led to stand alone without a row,

so he should try to stand in the first row, if not then the next and so on.

• He should follow the Imam and not act before him.

• The Imam should shorten his recitation,

bowing, and prostration, and not elongate it so as to be compassionate for the group.

• He should sit facing the people on his right after the greeting at the end of the

prayer.

If someone joins the prayer after it has begun, he should join the group. The

rak`ah (the unit of prayer) will be counted for him if he attended the prayer before bowing. After the Imam gives the

final greeting, he should continue to make up what he missed.

• It is a Sunnah to listen to the recitation of the Rak`ahs of prayer that are recited

audibly, otherwise they should be recited inwardly.

• It is recommended to recite Al-Fatihah when the Imam is silent in the audibly loud Rak`ahs, where he gives time for

that.

Evidence from Qur’an and Sunnah

 Congregational prayers:Its obligation:

 

The Prophet of Allah (SAWS) said:

“If there are three men in a village or in the desert among whom prayer is not offered (in congregation), the devil has got the mastery

over them. So observe (prayer) in congregation, for the wolf eats only the straggling animal.”

(Reported by Abu-Dawud and an-Nasa`iyy)

The Prophet of Allah (SAWS) said:

“By Him in Whose Hand my soul is, I was about to order for collecting firewood (fuel) and then order someone to pronounce the Adhan for the

prayer and then order someone to lead the prayer, then I would go from behind and burn

the houses of men who did not present themselves for the (obligatory congregational)

prayer.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)

Abu Hurayrah (RA) narrated:“There came to the Prophet of Allah (SAWS) a blind man and said: Messenger of Allah, I have

no one to guide me to the mosque. He, therefore, asked Allah’s Messenger (SAWS) for permission to perform prayer in his house. He (the Prophet) granted him permission. Then, when the man turned away he called him and said: Do you hear the call to prayer? He said: Yes. He (the Prophet) said: Respond to it.”

(Reported by Muslim)

Ibn-Mas`ud (RA) narrated:“I have seen the time when no one stayed away

from it (prayer) except a hypocrite who was well known for his hypocrisy, whereas a man would be brought swaying (due to weakness)

between two men till he was set up in a row (of prayers).”

(Reported by Muslim)

The grace of congregational prayer:

The Prophet (SAWS) said:

“The prayer in congregation is twenty seven times superior to the prayer

offered by person alone.”

(Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said:“The reward of the prayer offered by a person in

congregation is twenty something times greater than that of the prayer offered in one's house or in the market (alone). And this is because if he performs ablution properly and then comes

to the mosque with the sole intention of praying, with every step he takes towards the

mosque, he is upgraded a degree in reward and a sin is taken off (crossed out) from his

accounts (of deeds).

When he prays, the angels keep on asking Allah’s Blessings and Allah's Forgiveness for him as long as he is (staying) at his praying place.

They say: ‘O' Allah! Bestow Your Blessings upon him, be Merciful and Kind to him, as long as he keeps on sitting at his praying place and

does not pass wind.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)

The Prophet (SAWS) said:

“A man’s prayer performed along with another is purer than his prayer alone, and his prayer with two men is purer

than his prayer with one, and if there are more, it is more pleasing to Allah, the

Exalted.”

(Reported by Abu-Dawud and an-Nasa’iyy)

The Prophet (SAWS) said:

“The most eminent among human beings (as a recipient of) reward (is one) who

lives farthest away, and who has to walk the farthest distance (to the mosque).”

(Reported by Muslim)

The ruling of congregational prayer for women:

The Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) said:

Do not prevent the female servants of Allah from visiting the mosques of Allah, but they may go out (to the mosque) having

not perfumed themselves.”

(Reported by Ahmad and Abu-Dawud)

The Prophet (SAWS) said:

“If a woman applies perfume, she must not attend the Evening prayer with us.”

(Reported by Muslim)

The Prophet (SAWS) said, "Do not prevent women from visiting the mosques; their

houses however are better for them.“ (Reported by Abu-Dawud and Ahmad)

Walking to perform congregational prayer:

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said:

“When the Iqamah is pronounced, do not come to it running; you should walk calmly with tranquility to join the

congregation. Then, join in what you caught for and complete what you missed.”

(Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)

The prayer of greeting the mosque:

The Prophet (SAWS) said:

“If anyone of you enters a mosque, he should not sit until he has offered a two-

rak`ah prayer.”

(Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)

Imamah of the prayers:

The Prophet of Allah (SAWS) said: “The most versed in Allah’s Book should

be the Imam for the people. If they are equally versed in reciting it, then the

most knowing of the Sunnah; if they are equal regarding the Sunnah, then the

first who emigrated (to Madinah).

If they are equal regarding migration, then the older. No man should lead another in prayer where the latter has the authority, or sit in his house on his cushion without

his permission.” (Reported by Muslim)

The order of the rows:

The Prophet (SAWS) said:“The best rows for men are the first rows,

and the worst ones are the last ones, and the best rows for women are the last ones and the worst ones for them are the first

ones.” (Reported by Muslim)

The Prophet (SAWS) said:“Let those be nearest to me who are wise

and who possess understanding, then those who are nearest to them in these

respects, and then those who are nearest to them.”

(Reported by Muslim)

Anas Ibn-Malik (RA) narrated:

“The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) led me and my mother in prayer. He made me stand on his right side, and made the

woman stand behind us.”

(Reported by Muslim)

Anas (RA) narrated also:

“The Prophet (SAWS) prayed in the house of Umm Sulaym; and I, along with an orphan, stood behind him while Umm

Sulaym (stood) behind us.”

(Reported by al-Bukhariyy)

The Prophet (SAWS) said:

“Straighten your rows. For the straightening of a row is a part of the

perfection of prayer.”

(Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)

The Prophet of Allah (SAWS) said:

“Keep your rows straight, otherwise Allah will create dissension among you.”

(Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)

The Prophet (SAWS) said:

“Straighten your rows and stand closer together, for I see you from behind my

back.”

(Al-Bukhariyy and an-Nasa’iyy)

The Prophet (SAWS) said:

“Come forward and follow my lead, and let those who come after you follow your

lead. People will continue to keep back till Allah will put them at the back.”

(Reported by Muslim)

The Prophet (SAWS) said:

“Allah and His angels bless those who are on the right flanks of the rows.”

(Reported by Abu-Dawud)

Following the Imam:

The Prophet (SAWS) said: “The Imam is to be followed; say Takbir ‘Allahu

Akbar’ (Allah is the Greatest) when he says it; bow when he bows; rise when he rises, and

when he says ‘Sami`a Allahu Liman Hamidah’ (Allah listens to the one who praises Him) say, ‘Rabbana Wa Laka Al-Hamd’ (Our Lord, for

You is all praise), and prostrate if he prostrates.”

(Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said:

“Do not that who raises his head before the Imam fear that Allah will turn his head

into a head of an ass or make his appearance similar to that of an ass?” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)

The Imam should not elongate the prayer:

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said:

“If anyone of you leads the prayer, he should not prolong it, because the

congregation includes those who are feeble, ill, and old. While praying alone, you may make the prayer as long as you

like.”

(Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)

The case of joining the congregational prayer

after it has begun:

The Prophet (SAWS) said:

“He who catches a rak`ah of the prayer, he in fact catches the prayer.”

(Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)

The Prophet (SAWS) said:

“Then join in what you caught for and complete what you missed.”

(Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)

Listening to the recitation of the Imam:

Allah says:

ل�ه� ﴿ � ع�وا ت�م اس� ف� آن� ر� ال�ق� رىء� ق� ذ�ا إ و�م�ون� ح� ت�ر� ل�ع�ل�ك�م� � ت�وا أ�نص : أعرافال] ﴾و�

204]

 

This means:

“So, when the Qur'an is recited, listen to it, and be silent that you may receive mercy.”

(Al-A`raf: 204)

Abu-Hurayrah (RA) narrated that the Prophet (SAWS) said:

“I am wondering what is the matter with me that I have been contended with

reciting the Qur’an. When the people heard that from the Prophet of Allah

(SAWS) they ceased reciting (the Qur’an) along with him at the prayers in

which he recited aloud.” (Reported by at-Tirmidhiyy)

 

The Prophet (SAWS) said:

“The Imam is appointed only to be followed. When he recites (the Qur’an),

keep silent.”

(Reported by an-Nasa’iyy)