The Benefits of Salaah in Congregation by Alhuda Bolton

Saturday 16 Dec 2017

The Benefits of Salāh in Congregation Allāh

• The Congregational prayer is legislated to be performed in the obligatory prayers

• Some optional prayers e.g. the eclipse prayer, the Eid prayers and the Taraweeh prayers and also prayed in congregation

• Also, the night prayer (tahajjud) and the morning prayer (duha) may be prayed in congregation can be prayed in congregation, however this should not be the norm
o For example, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) in prayed the night prayer with Ibn Abbās and Hudhaifah Ibn Yamān amongst others (however this was not his habit)

• What are the benefits of the congregational prayer?
o 1. It is a means of uniting the Muslims
 Supplications made in the congregational prayers benefits everyone (e.g. those with shortcomings who attend benefit from making supplication alongside and with those who are righteous) present and there is great reward in it
 Allah forgives those who are present in the congregational prayer
o 2. Praying in congregation distances the shaitaan (devil)
 When one is alone in prayer shaitān whispers to him and distracts him, and when one is in congregation this is greatly reduced
 Likewise, the Messenger of Allāh (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said the wolf eats the lone sheep
 NOTE: it is important to stand side by side and not to leave gaps as these gaps leave openings for the shaitān to enter
o 3. Praying in congregation is educational for the one not aware
 Many people make mistakes in their prayers and they don’t notice at all. Praying in congregation will highlight to such a person mistakes they may have e.g. one may notice this himself or be reminded by others
o 4. Praying in congregation establishes a sense of community and connection
 For example, the one who regularly prays in congregation, if he was to become absent people would ask about him. If such a person was ill or had difficulties the others from the congregation would come to help, and if such a person was absent due to negligence then people would approach him to advise him.
o 5.

• Allāh has legislated certain times for the Muslims to congregate and among them is the congregational prayer.

• When the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) arrived in Madinah he immediately started work on building the mosque so that the believers can come to the congregational prayers.

• Not attending the congregational prayer is a large deficiency for a Muslim as he loses out on the unity, and shaitān has more openings to attack him

• Other times of congregation:
o The Friday prayer is likewise an important opportunity to unite in the week and pray with the other Muslims
o The Eid prayers are major opportunities to unite in congregation twice a year and the gathering on the Eid days are larger than during the daily congregation (the five prayers) and the weekly congregation (Friday)
o Likewise Hajj is a once in the year opportunity for Muslims from all over the world to gather

• The above shows that Islam is a religion of unity

• Hadith of Abdullāh Ibn Umar The reward of the congregational prayer is twenty seven times greater (than that of the prayer offered by a person alone) [Al-Bukhāri]. In the Narration of Abū Hurairah congregational prayer is better by 25 times.
o Which is one more accurate (27 or 25 times?). Some scholars say there is no difference as the main point is that the congregational prayer is superior. Other scholars say originally the factor was 25 times more however by the mercy of Allāh this later became 27. Either way this hadith indicates to us the superiority of the congregational prayer over the solitary prayer

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