Authored by: Shaykh Mubashar Ahmad Rabbani (Hafidhahullah)
Question:
After a congregational prayer has been held, can those who missed it form a second congregation? Some people consider it undesirable.
Answer:
The permissibility of conducting a second congregation in the same mosque is established through authentic Hadiths. This practice was also followed by the Companions (رضي الله عنهم), the Tabi'een, and scholars of jurisprudence and Hadith.
"The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) saw a man praying alone and said: ‘Is there no one to do charity upon this man and pray with him?’"
– Sunan Abu Dawood, 574
In another narration, it is said:
"Who among you will gain reward by praying with this man?” One person stood up and joined him in prayer."– Tirmidhi, Book of Prayer, Chapter on Congregation in a Mosque, etc.
Commentators like Imam al-Zayla'i and Imam al-Suyuti have mentioned in their works that the individual who stood to join the man in prayer was Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه). From this Hadith, it becomes evident that conducting a second congregation in the same mosque is permissible. If an individual arrives after the congregational prayer has concluded, it is valid, recommended, and permissible to pray in congregation with another person.
"Anas (رضي الله عنه) came to a mosque where the prayer had already been conducted. He called for the Adhan and Iqamah and prayed in congregation."
– Sahih Bukhari, Commentary, Book of Adhan
Imam al-Baghawi states about the Hadith of Abu Saeed al-Khudri (رضي الله عنه):
"This Hadith indicates that a person who has already prayed in congregation may pray again with another group and that it is permissible to hold a second congregation in the mosque. This opinion is held by several Companions and Tabi'een."– Sharh al-Sunnah
Imam Ibn Qudamah mentions:
"There is no dislike in holding a second congregation in the mosque. This means that if the community's appointed Imam has completed the prayer and another group arrives, they are encouraged to pray in congregation. This view is supported by Ibn Mas'ud, 'Ata, Hasan, and others."– Al-Mughni
Ibn Qudamah further cites the Hadith of Abu Saeed al-Khudri (رضي الله عنه).
"The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: ‘The prayer in congregation is 25 times more virtuous than the prayer of an individual.’"– Bukhari, Book of Tafsir
This Hadith applies to both the first and second congregations, indicating that if someone misses the initial congregation, they may still achieve the same reward by joining a second congregation.
"Anas bin Malik (رضي الله عنه) once passed by a mosque where the morning prayer had already been held. He instructed a man to call the Adhan and Iqamah, and then he led his companions in prayer."– Abu Ya’la, Ibn Abi Shaybah
➍ It is also narrated that Ibn Mas'ud (رضي الله عنه) entered a mosque after the people had already prayed and led ‘Alqama, Masruq, and Aswad in prayer.– Abkar al-Manan
These clear Hadiths and reports demonstrate that holding a second congregation in the mosque is permissible without any dislike.
"The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) came from the outskirts of Madinah and found the people had already prayed. He returned home, gathered his family, and led them in prayer."– Majma al-Zawaid
Some scholars argue that if a second congregation were completely permissible, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) would not have preferred to return home for prayer. However, scholars such as Shaykh al-Albani have analyzed this narration and considered that it does not conclusively indicate dislike for second congregations.
Moreover, Shaykh al-Albani has questioned the authenticity of this view due to the narrator Baaqiyah bin al-Waleed being a mudallis (narrator with ambiguous transmission).
Another narration sometimes cited is:
"Ibrahim narrates that ‘Alqama and Aswad came with Ibn Mas'ud (رضي الله عنه) to the mosque, where they found that the people had already prayed, so they went home, and he prayed with them at home."
Due to inconsistencies and weak chains, this narration is not considered a strong basis for prohibiting a second congregation.
"The more correct opinion is that if a person arrives at a mosque where the appointed Imam has completed the prayer and they have missed the congregation due to a valid reason, it is allowed to conduct a second congregation."
However, it should be noted that one should not intentionally avoid the first congregation, nor should it become customary to form a second congregation without a valid reason. Islam emphasizes the importance of attending the main congregational prayer on time. As the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:
"I liked that the believers' prayer should be unified."
– Abu Dawood
Hence, while a second congregation is permissible, the primary focus should remain on timely participation in the main congregational prayer unless a valid reason prevents it.
Question:
After a congregational prayer has been held, can those who missed it form a second congregation? Some people consider it undesirable.
Answer:
The permissibility of conducting a second congregation in the same mosque is established through authentic Hadiths. This practice was also followed by the Companions (رضي الله عنهم), the Tabi'een, and scholars of jurisprudence and Hadith.
➊ Evidence from Hadith
It is narrated from Abu Saeed al-Khudri (رضي الله عنه):"The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) saw a man praying alone and said: ‘Is there no one to do charity upon this man and pray with him?’"
– Sunan Abu Dawood, 574
In another narration, it is said:
"Who among you will gain reward by praying with this man?” One person stood up and joined him in prayer."– Tirmidhi, Book of Prayer, Chapter on Congregation in a Mosque, etc.
Commentators like Imam al-Zayla'i and Imam al-Suyuti have mentioned in their works that the individual who stood to join the man in prayer was Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه). From this Hadith, it becomes evident that conducting a second congregation in the same mosque is permissible. If an individual arrives after the congregational prayer has concluded, it is valid, recommended, and permissible to pray in congregation with another person.
Example from the Companions
Imam Bukhari writes about Anas bin Malik (رضي الله عنه):"Anas (رضي الله عنه) came to a mosque where the prayer had already been conducted. He called for the Adhan and Iqamah and prayed in congregation."
– Sahih Bukhari, Commentary, Book of Adhan
Imam al-Baghawi states about the Hadith of Abu Saeed al-Khudri (رضي الله عنه):
"This Hadith indicates that a person who has already prayed in congregation may pray again with another group and that it is permissible to hold a second congregation in the mosque. This opinion is held by several Companions and Tabi'een."– Sharh al-Sunnah
Imam Ibn Qudamah mentions:
"There is no dislike in holding a second congregation in the mosque. This means that if the community's appointed Imam has completed the prayer and another group arrives, they are encouraged to pray in congregation. This view is supported by Ibn Mas'ud, 'Ata, Hasan, and others."– Al-Mughni
Ibn Qudamah further cites the Hadith of Abu Saeed al-Khudri (رضي الله عنه).
Virtue of Congregational Prayer
Narrated from Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه):"The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: ‘The prayer in congregation is 25 times more virtuous than the prayer of an individual.’"– Bukhari, Book of Tafsir
This Hadith applies to both the first and second congregations, indicating that if someone misses the initial congregation, they may still achieve the same reward by joining a second congregation.
Additional Incidents of Second Congregation
➌ Narrated from Ja’d Abu Uthman:"Anas bin Malik (رضي الله عنه) once passed by a mosque where the morning prayer had already been held. He instructed a man to call the Adhan and Iqamah, and then he led his companions in prayer."– Abu Ya’la, Ibn Abi Shaybah
➍ It is also narrated that Ibn Mas'ud (رضي الله عنه) entered a mosque after the people had already prayed and led ‘Alqama, Masruq, and Aswad in prayer.– Abkar al-Manan
These clear Hadiths and reports demonstrate that holding a second congregation in the mosque is permissible without any dislike.
Arguments of Those Who Find Second Congregations Undesirable
It is narrated from Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) that:"The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) came from the outskirts of Madinah and found the people had already prayed. He returned home, gathered his family, and led them in prayer."– Majma al-Zawaid
Some scholars argue that if a second congregation were completely permissible, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) would not have preferred to return home for prayer. However, scholars such as Shaykh al-Albani have analyzed this narration and considered that it does not conclusively indicate dislike for second congregations.
Moreover, Shaykh al-Albani has questioned the authenticity of this view due to the narrator Baaqiyah bin al-Waleed being a mudallis (narrator with ambiguous transmission).
Another narration sometimes cited is:
"Ibrahim narrates that ‘Alqama and Aswad came with Ibn Mas'ud (رضي الله عنه) to the mosque, where they found that the people had already prayed, so they went home, and he prayed with them at home."
Due to inconsistencies and weak chains, this narration is not considered a strong basis for prohibiting a second congregation.
Conclusion on Permissibility of Second Congregation
Based on authentic narrations and scholarly opinions, it is clear that a second congregation in the mosque is not only permissible but also has precedents from the Sahabah. Shaykh 'Ubaydullah Mubarakpuri states:"The more correct opinion is that if a person arrives at a mosque where the appointed Imam has completed the prayer and they have missed the congregation due to a valid reason, it is allowed to conduct a second congregation."
However, it should be noted that one should not intentionally avoid the first congregation, nor should it become customary to form a second congregation without a valid reason. Islam emphasizes the importance of attending the main congregational prayer on time. As the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:
"I liked that the believers' prayer should be unified."
– Abu Dawood
Hence, while a second congregation is permissible, the primary focus should remain on timely participation in the main congregational prayer unless a valid reason prevents it.
