Virtues and Importance of Congregational Prayer in Islam

Equal Reward Is Granted

Reference: Abu Dāwūd, Kitab al-Ṣalāh, Bab mā jā’a fī Faḍl al-Mashy ilā al-Ṣalāh: 558

(Ḥasan)

❀ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“The prayer of a man with another man is better than his prayer alone. His prayer with two men is better than his prayer with one man, and the prayer offered with a larger congregation is more beloved to Allah Almighty.”

Reference: Abu Dāwūd, Kitab al-Ṣalāh, Bab fī Faḍl Ṣalāh al-Jamāʿah: 554

Reference: al-Nasā’ī: 844

(Ḥasan)

❀ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“Whoever leaves his house to offer prayer in congregation, but upon reaching the mosque finds that the congregation has already ended, he will receive the reward of praying in congregation, and his reward will not be reduced in the least compared to those who prayed in congregation.”

Reference: Abu Dāwūd, Kitab al-Ṣalāh, Bab mā jā’a fī man Kharaja: 564

Reference: al-Nasā’ī: 856

(Ṣaḥīḥ)

Warning Against Abandoning Congregational Prayer​

❀ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

لقد هممت أن آمر المؤذن فيقيم، ثم آمر رجلًا يؤم الناس، ثم آخذ شُعَلًا من نار فأُحرِّق على من لا يخرج إلى الصلاة بيوتَهم

“I intended to order the mu’adhdhin to give the iqāmah, then appoint a man to lead the people in prayer, and then take a flame of fire to burn the houses of those who do not come out for prayer.”

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitab al-Adhān, Bab Faḍl Ṣalāh al-ʿIshā’ fī al-Jamāʿah: 657

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 651

❀ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“If there are only three Muslims in a village or in the wilderness and they do not establish congregational prayer, Shayṭān gains control over them. So adhere to congregational prayer, for indeed the wolf devours the lone sheep (meaning Shayṭān overpowers the one who remains alone).”

Reference: al-Nasā’ī, Kitab al-Imāmah, Bab al-Tashdīd fī Tark al-Jamāʿah: 848

Reference: Abu Dāwūd: 547

(Ḥasan)

How Many People Are Required for Congregation?​

❀ If there are two people, they should establish congregational prayer.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to Mālik bin al-Ḥuwayrith رضي الله عنه and his companion:

إذا حضرت الصلاة فأذِّنا وأقيما، وليؤمكما أكبركما

“When the time for prayer comes, give the adhān and the iqāmah, and let the elder of you lead the prayer.”

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitab al-Adhān, Bab Ithnān fa-Mā Fawqahumā Jamāʿah: 658

❀ Even if there is only one Muslim, he should still observe adhān and congregation.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

إن ربك يعجب من راعي غنم على رأس جبل يؤذن بالصلاة ويقيمها فيصلي، فيقول الله: انظروا إلى عبدي هذا يؤذن ويقيم الصلاة وهو يخافني، قد غفرت له وأدخلته الجنة

“Your Lord is pleased with a shepherd who is on the top of a mountain, gives the adhān for prayer, establishes it, and prays. Allah says: ‘Look at My servant; he gives adhān and establishes prayer fearing Me. I have forgiven him and admitted him into Paradise.’”

Reference: al-Nasā’ī, Kitab al-Adhān, Bab al-Adhān liman Yuṣallī Waḥdah: 6067

Reference: Abu Dāwūd: 1203

(Ṣaḥīḥ)

Etiquettes of Going to Prayer​

❀ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“When you hear the iqāmah, come to the prayer with calmness and dignity. Do not rush. Whatever you catch with the congregation, pray it, and whatever you miss, complete it afterward.”

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitab al-Adhān, Bab lā Yasʿā ilā al-Ṣalāh: 636

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 603

❀ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“When a person performs ablution properly and then proceeds toward the mosque, he should not interlock the fingers of one hand with the fingers of the other, for he is considered to be in prayer.”

Reference: Abu Dāwūd, Kitab al-Ṣalāh, Bab mā jā’a fī al-Hady fī al-Mashy ilā al-Ṣalāh: 562

Reference: al-Tirmidhī: 386

(Ṣaḥīḥ)

❀ This means that while walking toward the mosque, a person is in the state of prayer, so he should refrain from actions that contradict the etiquette of prayer even on the way.

❀ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“When one of you enters the mosque, he should not sit until he has prayed two rakʿahs.”

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitab al-Ṣalāh, Bab Idhā Dakhala al-Masjid Falyarkaʿ Rakʿatayn: 444

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 714

If a person performs any obligatory or voluntary prayer before sitting, then there is no need to offer Taḥiyyat al-Masjid separately.