Complete Rulings on Missing Congregation and Masjid Attendance

❖ English Translation ❖
Source: Ahkām-o-Masāʾil al-Ṣalāh, Vol. 1, Page 169
Section: Ruling on Missing Congregational (Jamāʿah) Prayer

✿ Ruling on One Who Misses the Congregational Prayer​

❀ The one who misses congregational prayer and offers it alone falls into two categories:

① First Category: Excused Individuals​

✔ If someone misses the congregational prayer due to a legitimate excuse such as illness or fear, and it is not their habit to neglect the congregation without reason, they will still receive the reward of the congregation, in shāʾ Allāh.

As mentioned in an authentic ḥadīth:

"إِذَا مَرِضَ الْعَبْدُ أَوْ سَافَرَ كُتِبَ لَهُ مِثْلُ مَا كَانَ يَعْمَلُ مُقِيمًا صَحِيحًا"
❝When a servant becomes ill or travels, the deeds he used to perform while healthy and resident are still written for him.❞
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 2996]

✔ Similarly, if one had a firm intention to offer the prayer in congregation but a Sharʿī (legitimate) excuse prevented it, he will still attain the full reward, due to the purity and correctness of his intention.

② Second Category: Without Excuse​

✔ If someone skips the congregational prayer without a valid Sharʿī excuse and prays alone, the prayer is valid according to the majority, but he is deprived of great reward.

◈ Congregational prayer has 27 times more reward than solitary prayer.
◈ The reward for walking step by step to the mosque is also lost.
◈ He becomes sinful for abandoning a wājib (obligatory act) without excuse.
◈ He becomes deserving of disciplinary action by the wali al-amr (Islamic authority) until he returns to righteousness.

✿ Congregation Belongs in the Masjid​

✔ The proper place for congregational prayer is the masjid, which serves as a hallmark of Islam.
✔ The primary purpose of masājid is to establish congregational prayer.
✔ Making other places the norm for congregation leads to the neglect and desolation of masājid.

Allah Taʿālā says:

﴿فِي بُيُوتٍ أَذِنَ اللَّهُ أَن تُرْفَعَ وَيُذْكَرَ فِيهَا اسْمُهُ…﴾
﴿…رِجَالٌ لَا تُلْهِيهِمْ تِجَارَةٌ وَلَا بَيْعٌ عَن ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ…﴾
[al-Nūr: 36–37]

❝In houses (masājid) which Allah has commanded to be raised and His name remembered therein, therein glorify Him morning and evening. Men whom neither trade nor sale diverts from the remembrance of Allah, from establishing prayer and giving zakāh…❞

And Allah says:

﴿إِنَّمَا يَعْمُرُ مَسَاجِدَ اللَّهِ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ…﴾
[al-Tawbah: 18]

❝The masājid of Allah are maintained by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day…❞

✔ These verses show the virtue of populating masājid and imply a condemnation for those who neglect attending them.

✿ Neighbor of the Masjid​

The Prophet ﷺ said:

"لَا صَلَاةَ لِجَارِ الْمَسْجِدِ إِلَّا فِي الْمَسْجِدِ"
(Ḍaʿīf – al-Sunan al-Kubrā lil-Bayhaqī: 3/57)
❝There is no prayer for the neighbor of the masjid except in the masjid.❞

In another narration:

"مَنْ سَمِعَ الْمُنَادِي"
❝(The neighbor of the masjid is one) who hears the adhān (call to prayer).❞

---

Imām Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله said:

❝Whoever reflects properly on the Sunnah will know that attending the masjid for prayer is obligatory for every man, except for a valid excuse. Non-attendance at the masjid without excuse equates to abandoning congregation. The aḥādīth and āthār agree on this.❞
[al-Ṣalāh wa Aḥkām Tārikihā, p. 118]

✿ Warning for Those Who Abandon the Masjid​

Allah Taʿālā says:

﴿وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن مَّنَعَ مَسَاجِدَ اللَّهِ…﴾
[al-Baqarah: 114]
❝Who is more unjust than one who prevents Allah's name from being mentioned in His masājid and strives to ruin them…?❞

✔ Making congregation outside the masjid as a regular practice leads to deserted masājid and declining spiritual awareness.

✿ Minimum Number for Congregation​

✔ At least two individuals are required for a valid congregation.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

"الاثْنَانِ فَمَا فَوْقَهُمَا جَمَاعَةٌ"
(Ḍaʿīf – Sunan Ibn Mājah: 972)
❝Two or more people constitute a jamāʿah.❞

And in another narration:

"هَذَانِ جَمَاعَةٌ"
[Musnad Aḥmad: 5/254, 269]
❝These two are a jamāʿah.❞

✿ Women Attending the Masjid​

✔ Women may attend masājid for congregational prayer with their husband's permission, provided that:

◈ They do not wear perfume
◈ They conceal their adornment
◈ They maintain full hijāb
◈ They avoid intermingling with men
◈ They pray behind the men

✿ Women Leading Other Women​

✔ Women may lead other women in prayer, either by appointing a male or female imam. The Prophet ﷺ appointed a muʾadhdhin and instructed Umm Waraqah رضي الله عنها to lead the women of her household.
[Musnad Aḥmad: 6/405; Abū Dāwūd: 592]

✿ Virtue of Congregational Prayer​

The Prophet ﷺ said:

"صَلَاةُ الْجَمَاعَةِ تَفْضُلُ عَلَى صَلَاةِ الْفَرْدِ بِسَبْعٍ وَعِشْرِينَ دَرَجَةً"
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 645]
❝Congregational prayer exceeds individual prayer by twenty-seven degrees.❞

✿ Which Masjid is Best for Prayer?​

✔ One should pray in a masjid where congregational prayer depends on his attendance, to earn the reward of populating the masjid.

Allah says:

﴿إِنَّمَا يَعْمُرُ مَسَاجِدَ اللَّهِ…﴾
[al-Tawbah: 18]

✔ Next in virtue is the masjid where more people gather, as the reward increases with larger congregations.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

"صَلَاةُ الرَّجُلِ مَعَ الرَّجُلِ أَزْكَى مِنْ صَلَاتِهِ وَحْدَهُ... وَمَا كَثُرَ فَهُوَ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ تَعَالَى"
[Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 554; Musnad Aḥmad: 5/140]
❝A man's prayer with another man is purer than praying alone, and his prayer with two men is purer than with one. The more numerous the congregation, the more beloved it is to Allah.❞

✿ Virtue of Older Masājid and Walking Farther​

✔ It is better to pray in an older masjid due to its precedence in worship.

✔ Distant masājid carry greater reward:

The Prophet ﷺ said:

"أَعْظَمُ النَّاسِ أَجْرًا فِي الصَّلَاةِ أَبْعَدُهُمْ إِلَيْهَا مَمْشًى"
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 651]
❝The one with the greatest reward in prayer is he who walks the furthest to it.❞

And:

"لَا يَخْطُو خُطْوَةً إِلَّا رُفِعَتْ لَهُ بِهَا دَرَجَةٌ..."
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 647; 477]

❝He does not take a single step toward the masjid except that a rank is raised and a sin is removed… until he enters the masjid.❞

✿ Preference for the Local Masjid​

❀ Some scholars say it is better to pray in the nearest masjid, as the neighbor has more right.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

"لَا صَلَاةَ لِجَارِ الْمَسْجِدِ إِلَّا فِي الْمَسْجِدِ"
(Ḍaʿīf – al-Sunan al-Kubrā: 3/57)

✔ Skipping the nearby masjid may raise suspicion and offend the local imam.

✿ Leading Prayer in Presence of the Designated Imam​

✔ It is not permissible to lead the prayer in a masjid where a designated imam is present unless he permits or is excused.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

"لَا يُؤُمَّنَّ الرَّجُلُ الرَّجُلَ فِي سُلْطَانِهِ..."
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 673]
❝A man should not lead another in his area of authority without permission…❞

Imām Nawawī رحمه الله said:
❝The house owner is more entitled to lead in his home, and the appointed imam in his masjid.❞
[Sharḥ Muslim: 5/243]

✔ Violating this causes disorder, resentment, and division. Some scholars even said: the prayer is invalid if led without the imam's permission.

✿ Mutual Rights of Imam and Congregation​

✔ The congregation should respect the imam’s position.
✔ The imam must not burden the congregation or hurt their dignity.
✔ Mutual respect brings unity and harmony.

✿ When the Appointed Imam Is Delayed​

✔ If the imam is delayed and little time remains, someone else may lead the congregation.

◈ Abū Bakr رضي الله عنه once led the prayer when the Prophet ﷺ was delayed.
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 421]

◈ The Prophet ﷺ once joined ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn ʿAwf رضي الله عنه for the last rakʿah. After the prayer, he said:
"أَحْسَنتُمْ" – ❝You did well.❞
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 274]

✿ Repeating the Same Prayer with the Congregation​

✔ If someone already prayed alone and finds the same prayer being offered in congregation, it is Sunnah to join again.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

"صَلِّ الصَّلَاةَ لِوَقْتِهَا، فَإِنْ أَدْرَكْتَ مَعَهُمْ فَصَلِّ، وَلَا تَقُلْ: إِنِّي قَدْ صَلَّيْتُ"
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 648]
❝Pray at its time, and if you find them praying, join them, and do not say: ‘I already prayed.’❞

✔ The second prayer becomes nafl.
[Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī: 219]

✔ Avoiding the congregation may lead people to suspect the person is not praying.

✿ Starting Nafl Prayer After Iqāmah​

✔ Once iqāmah is announced, it is prohibited to start another prayer—even nafl, or taḥiyyat al-masjid.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

"إِذَا أُقِيمَتِ الصَّلَاةُ فَلَا صَلَاةَ إِلَّا الْمَكْتُوبَةُ"
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 710]
❝When the prayer has been established, there is no prayer except the obligatory one.❞

✔ If already engaged in nafl when iqāmah begins, shorten it, or terminate it if fearing to miss the congregation.

Imām Nawawī رحمه الله said:
❝Joining the imam from the beginning ensures complete focus and the reward of takbīr al-taḥrīmah.❞
[Sharḥ Muslim: 5/312]