Section : Congregational Prayer. Performing the prayers in congregation is a sunnah mu’akkadah. Many ahadith discuss the superiority and excellence of prayers in congregation. Such ahadith include the following: Ibn ‘Umar reports that the Prophet sallallahu alehi wasallam said: “Prayer…
Section : Women and congregational prayers. It is better for women to pray in their houses than to attend congregational prayers. However, they may go to the mosque and attend the congregational prayer if they avoid wearing or using any…
Section : Praying at a larger and more distant mosque. It is preferable to pray in a mosque that is farther away and that has a larger congregation. Muslim records from Abu Musa that the Prophet sallallahu alehi wasallam said:…
Section : Going to the mosque with calm and dignity. It is preferred for one to walk to the mosque with calm and dignity and not in a hurry or rushing. This is because the person is considered to be…
Section : The imam should be “easy” on his followers. Abu Hurairah reports that the Prophet said: “If one of you leads the people in prayer, he should be “easy,” on them for among the people are the weak, sick,…
Section : The imam may prolong the first rak’ah to allow others to join. It is permitted for the imam to prolong the first rak’ah while waiting for others to join the congregation. In the same way, it is preferred…
Section : It is obligatory to follow the imam and forbidden to precede him. Abu Hurairah reports that the Prophet sallallahu alehi wasallam said: “The imam is selected to be followed; therefore, do not differ with him. When he makes…
Section : Consitution of a congregation. One person with the imam would constitute a congregation even if the other person is a child or a woman. Ibn ‘Abbas says: “I stayed with my Aunt Maimunah and the Prophet sallallahu alehi…
Section : An imam may change his place and become a follower. If the regular imam or appointed imam is not present, it is permissible to appoint someone else to perform the duty of imam. If the regular imam appears…
Section : Catching up with imam or the congregation. Whoever joins a congregation, he should perform the opening takbir while standing and then move directly to the act that the congregation may be performing, for instance, if the congregation is…
Section : When it is permissible to not attend Congregation. Ibn ‘Umar narrated that the Prophet ordered the mu’azhzhin to say: “Pray in your places,” on a cold, stormy night during a journey. This is related by alBukhari and Muslim.…
Section : The one who should be imam is the one who is the most versed in the Qur’an. If two or more are equal in this, then it is the one who has the most knowledge of the sunnah.…
Section : Whose imamate is acceptable. The imamate of all the following is acceptable: a discerning boy, a blind person, a standing person for those who are sitting, a sitting person for those who are standing, a person praying fard…
Section : Whose imamate is not acceptable. It is not allowed for one who has a health problem which does not allow him to remain in a state of purity to be an imam for others who do not have…
Section : It is preferred to have a woman imam for women. ‘Aishah used to lead the women in salah and stand with the women in the middle of the first row. Umm Salamah would also do so. The Prophet…