Prayer in Congregation and Its Significance
Both the Qur’ān and Hadīth lay special emphasis on observing prayers in congregation. The Qur’ān says:
And be steadfast in prayer; practice regular charity, and bow down your heads with those who bow down in worship. (Q 2:43)
Even in battlefield, there is instruction about observing the prayer collectively. When it is time for prayer during actual fighting, a group of the Muslim soldiers are to go and offer the prayer in congregation under the leadership of an Imam while some others stand on guard. Then the group rotates.
When ye pass (congregational) prayer, celebrate God’s praises, standing, and sitting down or lying down on your sides, but when ye are free from danger, set up regular; regular prayers are enjoined on believers at stated times. (Q 4:103)
On the other hand, the Hadīths related to the Prophet Muhammad ( SAW ) extols prayer in congregation: “congregational prayer is twenty seven times more meritorious than observing prayer as an individual.” One who lives near the mosque should say his prayers in the mosque; and for every step you take when you are going to say your prayer in the mosque is a reward.
Thus in Islam, the Muslim body, both men and women, gather together at the appointed times to praise and glorify Allah ( SAW ) and address their petitions to Him particularly for the five daily prayers, the Jumu‘at and the two Eid prayers. The place where this is done is known as Masjid, a mosque. It is therefore worthwhile to study the observance of prayer in congregation.
The place where the congregational prayer is expected to be performed is known as masjid (mosque). In the mosque the Muslims stand shoulder to shoulder in a row or in several rows as the case may be and one person chosen from among us as leader and is known as Imām. The Imām stands in front and leads the prayer. However, if there are women in the congregation, as it ought to be, they will form a row or several rows at the back of the rows of men.
It should be noted that the distance between the Imām and the first row should generally be four feet in order to make the prostration easy. The smallest number of people that can form a congregational prayer is two people.
If it happens that you enter late and you find out that the Imām has started, the best thing is to join the congregation where you met them. You should not just wait until when the congregation have finished before you say your own prayer.
The next thing you should do is that when the Imām finishes you should rise up and make for those Raka'a you missed. For example, if you missed one Raka'a when the Imām pronounces the taslim, you will rise up and observe the one Raka'at and recite extra Tashahhud before your taslim.
However, if the number of Raka'at you missed is three, you will rise up to make the second Raka'at and recite the Tashahhud and you will then follow it with another two Raka'at and make another Tashahhud, before final salāmah. It is essential to know that a Raka'at has been missed the moment the Imām has risen from ruku‘u.
You will agree with me that prayer in congregation will avail members having a sense of belonging to a Muslim family, both the rich and the poor, the high ranking and the low ranking standing shoulder to shoulder without any separation and worshippers getting conscious of their membership of a universal brotherhood.
And be steadfast in prayer; practice regular charity, and bow down your heads with those who bow down in worship. (Q 2:43)
Even in battlefield, there is instruction about observing the prayer collectively. When it is time for prayer during actual fighting, a group of the Muslim soldiers are to go and offer the prayer in congregation under the leadership of an Imam while some others stand on guard. Then the group rotates.
When ye pass (congregational) prayer, celebrate God’s praises, standing, and sitting down or lying down on your sides, but when ye are free from danger, set up regular; regular prayers are enjoined on believers at stated times. (Q 4:103)
On the other hand, the Hadīths related to the Prophet Muhammad ( SAW ) extols prayer in congregation: “congregational prayer is twenty seven times more meritorious than observing prayer as an individual.” One who lives near the mosque should say his prayers in the mosque; and for every step you take when you are going to say your prayer in the mosque is a reward.
Thus in Islam, the Muslim body, both men and women, gather together at the appointed times to praise and glorify Allah ( SAW ) and address their petitions to Him particularly for the five daily prayers, the Jumu‘at and the two Eid prayers. The place where this is done is known as Masjid, a mosque. It is therefore worthwhile to study the observance of prayer in congregation.
The place where the congregational prayer is expected to be performed is known as masjid (mosque). In the mosque the Muslims stand shoulder to shoulder in a row or in several rows as the case may be and one person chosen from among us as leader and is known as Imām. The Imām stands in front and leads the prayer. However, if there are women in the congregation, as it ought to be, they will form a row or several rows at the back of the rows of men.
It should be noted that the distance between the Imām and the first row should generally be four feet in order to make the prostration easy. The smallest number of people that can form a congregational prayer is two people.
If it happens that you enter late and you find out that the Imām has started, the best thing is to join the congregation where you met them. You should not just wait until when the congregation have finished before you say your own prayer.
The next thing you should do is that when the Imām finishes you should rise up and make for those Raka'a you missed. For example, if you missed one Raka'a when the Imām pronounces the taslim, you will rise up and observe the one Raka'at and recite extra Tashahhud before your taslim.
However, if the number of Raka'at you missed is three, you will rise up to make the second Raka'at and recite the Tashahhud and you will then follow it with another two Raka'at and make another Tashahhud, before final salāmah. It is essential to know that a Raka'at has been missed the moment the Imām has risen from ruku‘u.
You will agree with me that prayer in congregation will avail members having a sense of belonging to a Muslim family, both the rich and the poor, the high ranking and the low ranking standing shoulder to shoulder without any separation and worshippers getting conscious of their membership of a universal brotherhood.
No comments:
Post a Comment