Congregational prayer important, say scholars

[Abu Talib]

JEDDAH: The Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Religious Ruling (Ifta) issued a statement on Wednesday emphasizing the importance of congregational prayers and cautioning against moves to belittle its significance.

The committee, which was chaired by Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh and comprises the Kingdom’s top Islamic scholars, said it is compulsory on Muslim men to offer the five daily prayers in congregation in the mosque.

The religious panel’s statement comes in response to the opinions of Sheikh Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, director of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in the Makkah region, who argued that congregational prayer is not compulsory.

The committee stressed that praying with congregation is one of the important teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who once said offering prayer in congregation carries 27 times greater reward than offering it alone.

“Those who pray at home without joining congregational prayer at mosques have neglected the Sunnah or tradition of the Prophet (pbuh),” the committee said, adding that the Prophet’s followers had given utmost importance to congregational prayers.

The statement quoted a number of sayings of the Prophet (pbuh) that emphasize the need to attend congregational prayers in mosques.

“Whoever hears the call to prayer, and does not respond, then there is no prayer for him unless he has a valid reason,” it said quoting one Hadith.

The committee referred to another Hadith in which the Prophet (pbuh) said he would have ordered the burning of the homes of those who do not attend congregational prayers. “Isha and Fajr prayers are the most difficult ones for hypocrites but if they had known its rewards they would have attended them,” the Prophet (pbuh) said.

Sheikh Ibn Taimiya, a world-renowned scholar of Islam, had said that nobody is allowed to skip congregational prayer at mosque without a genuine reason.

The panel denounced the move by certain individuals and writers to lessen the importance of congregational prayer and question the closure of shops for such prayers.

“We believe that any effort to belittle congregational prayer is a violation of the teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah,” the statement said.

The committee highlighted the significance of congregational prayer, saying it would strengthen Muslim unity and brotherhood.
http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article48268.ece

[arzafar]

i think there is a difference between congregational prayers and praying in teh mosque.

[Aapa]

Assalaam walaikum,

Many can not attend the masjids. We often live too far from the masjid. But we can meet at a home for congregrational prayer. For the sake of clarification would you shed some light on this issue. Would this meet the requirements of making salat.

[Abu Talib]

Of what I listened from a Shiekh is that if you hear the adhaan then there is no excuse of not going and praying at the Masjid. He told this hadith also:

A blind man said, "Oh Messenger of Allah, I do not have someone to guide me to the Mosque," and thus asked the Messenger SAW to grant him special permission not to attend congregational prayers. As he was leaving, the Messenger called him and said "Do you hear the call? ", he said "yes". He SAW said, "Then answer." Authentic versions narrated by Ahmed and others came as: narrated by Ibn Maktoom that he said: "Oh Messenger of Allah, I am blind, live far away, and have a guide that does not suit me, so can't you give me consent to pray at home?" He said "Do you hear the call?" Ibn Maktoom replied "Yes". The Prophet SAW then said "I cannot find an excuse for you."

And related to your question if you follow fatwa you can check here
Is it permissible to offer prayer in congregation at home, and not go to the mosque? (http://www.islamqa.com/en/ref/72398/congregation)

[Aapa]

Assalaam walaikum,

Thank you for the link. It did provide an excellent answer. I can only write Allah subhana talla provides us with ease to serve Him. How Gracious is our Rabb. Alhumdullilia.

At my masjid..it is empty at the time of prayers..many many times. Sometimes I will take my sons and I will prayer behind the screen..just the three of us. I always think to myself..we are not alone because the masjid is filled with the angels of Allah praying besides us.

If we only had an imam.

[arzafar]

thing is that this hadith and all other related hadith do not mention the word 'mosque' or 'place of worship'

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “I was thinking of ordering a man to give the iqaamah, then I would order a man to lead the people in prayer, and I would go with some men carrying bundles of firewood, to people who do not attend the prayer in congregation, and I would burn their houses down around them.”

they all mention congregation. I think we should make it easier for Muslims to do congregational prayers rather than limiting congregation to the mosque only. for eg. the gym i go to has a courtyard where all the obligatory prayers are done in congregation but it's not a mosque. The point is that if the congregation is not done in the courtyard most people wouldn't bother to travel to the mosque.

can congregation be done on streets, courtyards or clean open spaces so that more people can participate?