QUESTION:
Please elaborate on the following questions regarding the congregational Salaah?
1. Is it binding on men and women?
2. Is it obligatory for men to attend congregational Salaah in the Masjid?
3. Will a Musallah suffice to fulfill the necessitation?
4. Will the Musallah at work or in a mall, suffice to fullfil this?
5. If a Hafidh reads Salaah at home with his parents, or wife and children (Masjid or Musallah are not far), will this suffice?
6. In terms of reward, what is the difference in status between reading Salaah in a Masjid, Musallah and at home?
ANSWER:
Performing Salaah in congregation holds a very lofty place in Islam. Many Ahaadith emphasize this point as well. Hadhrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi Rahmatullahi Alaihi has quoted many Ahaadeeth regarding the importance of Salaah performed in congregation [[i]]. We have quoted a few below:
* Ibn Umar Radiallahu Anhu narrates from Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam that the reward of offering Salaah with Jamaat is 27 times more than offering it alone.
* Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said: “It is better to offer Salaah with another person than to offer it alone. And it is even better to offer it with two people. And the bigger the Jamaat, the more beloved it is in the sight of Allah Ta’ala.”
* Buraydah Aslami Radiallahu Anhu narrates that once Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said: “Glad tidings to those who go to the Masajid in the dark hours of the night in order to attend the Jamaat Salaah; they will be bestowed with full light (Noor) on the day of resurrection.”
* Uthmaan Radiallahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said: “The person who offers Esha Salaah with Jamaat gets the reward of spending half the night in Ibaadah, while the one who offers the Esha and Fajr Salaah with Jamaat gets the reward of spending the entire night in Ibaadah.”
* Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu reports that once Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said: “It crossed my mind that I should order someone to gather some firewood, thereafter the Adhaan be called out and I order someone to lead the Salaah while I go to the houses of those people who do not attend the Jamaat Salaah, and set their houses alight.”
* Another narration states: “Had it not been for the little children and women, I would have occupied myself with the Esha Salaah and ordered the servants to go to the houses and set them alight, together with them and their possessions.” [Muslim]
* Abu Darda Radiallahu Anhu reports that Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said: “Even if there are only three persons in a particular locality or jungle, and they do not offer Salaah with Jamaat, then Shaytaan will most certainly overpower them. O Abu Darda! Regard Jamaat Salaah as being incumbent upon you. Remember, the wolves attack the sheep which have strayed away from the flock.”
* Ibn Abbas Radiallahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said: “The person who hears the Adhaan but does not attend the Jamaat Salaah (without any valid excuse), then his Salaah performed individually is not accepted.” The Sahaabah Radiallahu Anhum enquired with regards to a valid excuse and he replied that it was fear or sickness. The explanation has been provided in other Ahadith.
* Mihjan Radiallahu Anhu narrates: “Once I was with Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam when we heard the Adhaan. Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam commenced with Salaah whilst I sat down in my place. After completing his Salaah, Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam asked me: “O Mihjan! Why didn’t you offer your Salaah with Jamaat? Are you not a Muslim?” I replied saying: “O Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam! I am indeed a Muslim, but I had already offered my Salaah at home.” Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said: “When you come to the Masjid and see that the Jamaat has commenced, join the congregation and offer your Salaah even if you have already offered your Salaah.”
From the above-mentioned Ahaadeeth we understand the importance of congregational Salaah.
1. Hadhrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi Saheb Rahimahullah has written that it is Waajib for men to perform Salaah in congregation [[ii]]. With regard to females, it is recorded in Ahsanul Fataawa that it will be Makrooh-e-Tahreemi for females to attend the congregational Salaah at the Masjid [[iii]].
2. If the Masjid is close to one’s house yet he misses Jamaat Salaah at the Masjid for no reason, then this is a sign of deprivation. In other words, a person should try to perform Salaah with Jamaat in the Masjid to the best of his ability. [[iv]]. Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam even went to the extent of saying that there is no Salaah for a person staying next to the Masjid except in the Masjid; meaning that, if he does perform Salaah in the Masjid then his Salaah is not perfect.
معناه: لا صلاة كاملة، كقوله: (لا صلاة لجار المسجد إلا فى المسجد) ؛ لإجماعهم أن صلاته جائزة فى داره أو حيث صلاها، فنفى عنه الكمال، فكذلك هاهنا. (شرح صحيح التخاري لابن بطال ص369 ج2)
3/4/5. If a person has the option between performing Salaah in a Masjid or a Musallah, then it would be better and more rewarding for him to perform Salaah in the Masjid, albeit, Salaah performed in the Musallah will be valid [[v]]. Hadhrat Mufti Mahmood Saheb Gangohi Rahimahullah has mentioned that a person who has the ability to perform Salaah in the Masjid, yet still opts to read it elsewhere (such as a Musallah, room, etc), then he hasn’t fulfilled the right of the Masjid. [[vi]]. In short, a person should try to perform Salaah in the Masjid as far as possible. Only if this is not possible due to a valid Shari’ee reason, then he should perform Salaah in a Musallah. Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam had greatly emphasized the importance of performing Salaah in a Masjid as understood from the narrations quoted below:
*Buraydah Aslami Radiallahu Anhu narrates that once Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said: “Glad tidings to those who go to the Masjids in the dark hours of the night in order to attend the Jamaat Salaah. They will be bestowed with full light on the day of resurrection.”
* Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu reports that the Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “Anyone who purifies himself in his house and then goes to one of the houses of Allah to fulfil one of the obligations of Allah, then on every step that he takes, a sin is wiped out and his position elevated.” [Muslim]
From these prophetic traditions, we can gauge the extent to which Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam emphasized reading Salaah in the Masjid. Now, after reading about the importance of performing Salaah in the Masjid, why would anyone still opt to perform Salaah in any other place besides the Masjid?
6. Reading Salaah in a Masjid most definitely accrues much more reward than reading Salaah elsewhere, whether it be a Musallah, or at home. Hadhrat Shaikh Maulana Muhammad Zakariyya Kandhelwi states that if a person reads Salaah in Jamaat elsewhere (besides a Masjid), then undoubtedly he will receive the reward for performing Salaah in Jamaat, but he will not receive the reward like those who perform Salaah in the Masjid. This shows that Salaah in the Masjid is superior to Salaah performed elsewhere. Nowadays, it has become very common to erect Musallahs in flats and business areas etc. due to convenience, even though the Adhaan of a nearby Masjid can be clearly heard. People should try to attend the congregational Salaah in the Masjid. In fact, it is mentioned in I’laa us Sunan that a person who hears the Adhaan and still reads Salaah at home, will be sinful [[vii]].
ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Abdur Rahman Abdur Razak
Date:- 23 Safar 1445 / 09 September 2023
CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai Saheb
[i] Bahishti Zewar Pg 167
[ii] الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) (1/ 552)
(وَالْجَمَاعَةُ سُنَّةٌ مُؤَكَّدَةٌ لِلرِّجَالِ) قَالَ الزَّاهِدِي: أَرَادُوا بِالتَّأْكِيدِ الْوُجُوبَ إلَّا فِي جُمُعَةٍ وَعِيدٍ فَشَرْطٌ
Bahishti Zewar Pg 176
[iii] Ahsanul Fataawa Vol.3 / Pg.283
[iv] الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) (1/ 554)
(قَوْلُهُ فِي مَسْجِدٍ أَوْ غَيْرِهِ) قَالَ فِي الْقُنْيَةِ: وَاخْتَلَفَ الْعُلَمَاءُ فِي إقَامَتِهَا فِي الْبَيْتِ وَالْأَصَحُّ أَنَّهَا كَإِقَامَتِهَا فِي الْمَسْجِدِ إلَّا فِي الْأَفْضَلِيَّةِ.
Fataawa Mahmoodiyya Vol.2 / Pg.416
[v] غمز عيون البصائر في شرح الأشباه والنظائر (2/ 30)
قَوْلُهُ: مَنْ جَمَعَ بِأَهْلِهِ لَا يَنَالُ ثَوَابَ الْجَمَاعَةِ إلَخْ. يَعْنِي الَّتِي تَكُونُ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ لِزِيَادَةِ فَضِيلَةٍ، وَتَكْثِيرِ جَمَاعَةٍ، وَإِظْهَارِ شَعَائِرِ الْإِسْلَامِ، وَأَمَّا أَصْلُ الْفَضِيلَةِ وَهِيَ الْمُضَاعَفَةُ بِسَبْعِ وَعِشْرِينَ دَرَجَةً، فَحَاصِلَةٌ بِالصَّلَاةِ جَمَاعَةً فِي بَيْتِهِ عَلَى هَيْئَةِ الْجَمَاعَةِ الْكَائِنَةِ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ، فَالْحَاصِلُ أَنَّ كُلَّ مَا شُرِعَ فِيهِ الْجَمَاعَةُ فَالْمَسْجِدُ فِيهِ أَفْضَلُ لِمَا اشْتَمَلَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ شَرَفِ الْمَكَانِ، وَإِظْهَارِ الشَّعَائِرِ، وَتَكْثِيرِ سَوَادِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ، وَائْتِلَافِ قُلُوبِهِمْ.
الكنز المتواري للشيخ محمد زكريا الكاندهلوي( ج ٤ ص ٢٢٧)
لو صلى جماعة في البيت على هيئة الجماعة في المسجد نالوا فضيلة الجماعة وهي المضاعفة بسبع وعشرين درجة ولكن لم ينالوا فضيلة الجماعة الكائنة في المسجد
[vi] Fataawa Mahmoodiyya Vol.6 / Pg.418
[vii] إعلاء السنن) ج ٤ ص ١٨٨ (
وفي البحر ……. : وقال شمس الإمة: الأولى في زماننا تتبعها (أي الجماعة في المساجد ولعل وجه الأولوية مخافة الاعتياد لترك الجماعة في المساجد ١٢)
وسئل الحلواني عمن يجمع بأهله أحيانا هل ينال ثواب الجماعة أم لا ؟ قال : لا ويكون بدعة ومكروه (١:٥٧٩)
قلت: وهذا صريح في ان وجوب الجماعة إنما يتأتى بجماعة المسجد لا بجماعة البيوت ونحوها .. . فالصحيح أن الجماعة واجبة مع وجوب إتيانها في المسجد، ومن أقامها في البيت وهو يسمع النداء فقد اساء وأثم.