Congregational Prayer: Difference between revisions

[[Shi'a]] jurists' hold it that congregational prayer is highly [[recommended]]<ref>Narāqī, ''Mustanad al-Shīʿa'', vol. 8, p. 11-12.</ref>, but [[Hanbalis]] and some of [[Hanafis]] jurists say it is [[wajib|obligatory]] per person ([[wajib]] 'ayni) but not a condition for the validity of the prayers;<ref>Ibn Athīr al-Jazarī, ''Jāmiʿ al-uṣūl'', vol. 5, p. 564-566.</ref> and a group of [[Shafi'is]] says it is "wajib kifa'i" (obligatory for all while as long as the duty for fulfillment of a social need exists) for men who are not traveling. Most of Hanbalis and [[Malikis]] and some of Shafi'is believe that performing all wajib prayers (except for [[Friday Prayer]]) congregationally is highly recommended for all who can participate in it without bearing difficulties.

Majority of Shi'a [[jurist]]s believe that [[Eid Prayer|prayer of Eid al-Fitr]] and [[Eid Prayer|Eid al-Adha]] must be performed congregationally if all the conditions (including presence of an infallible [[Imam]]) are met; however some of them allow performing it and consider it as [[Mustahab]] in the time of [[occultation]]. In respect of the [[Sunni]] school of thought, Hanafis and Hanbalis have the same belief, but Malikis and Shafi'is see performing the [[Eid prayer]] congregationally as recommended, however all Muslims believe that the [[Friday prayer]] is not valid if it is not performed congregationally.

Most Sunni jurists allow performing every [[Supererogatory prayer|mustahab prayer]] congregationally, however Malikis and Hanafis believe that performing some mustahab prayers (other than what is performed in the month of [[Ramadan]]) and [[Ayat prayer]] congregationally, is [[makruh]] (disliked). On the other hand, Shi's [[jurisprudent]]s do not allow this at all, except for [[Istisqa' prayer]] (prayer for rain), and count every mustahab prayer done congregationally, as [[bid'a]] (innovation in the religion).

A ma'mum (follower in prayer) must not do the prayer acts ahead of the Imam, although it does not invalidate his prayer in the view of majority of [[Shi'a]] and some [[Sunni]] scholars. Some [[Faqih|jurists]] believe that following the [[Imam]] in prayer acts is the condition of the validity of the prayer but others believe it is the condition of its recognition as a congregational prayer.

# The location of the Imam must not be higher than that of the followers; therefore, [[Mihrab]]s (a semicircular niche in the wall of a mosque) are usually built lower than the mosque's floor.

Imam is the one standing in the front and leads the congregational prayer. In socio-political system of [[Islam]], whoever leads a group of people must have certain virtues and traits, so that he inspires others. Likewise the Imam in congregational prayer should be just and have a correct recitation.  

Jurists from all the Islamic sects believe unanimously that a woman cannot lead a congregational prayer if there is a man among followers; however some Shi'a jurists allow it only if the followers are all female.

# Trying to stand in the first line (it is said that it has the reward of [[jihad]])

Ayatullah [[Muhammad Husayn Kashif al-Ghita']] represented [[Iraq]]i scholars in "Quds Islamic Congress". His personality caused him to lead the congregational prayer in [[Masjid al-Aqsa]], in which thousands of Muslims including scholars from various [[Islamic sects]] attending the congress, participated.

*The material for this article is mainly taken from[http://fa.wikishia.net/%D9%86%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B2_%D8%AC%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%AA نماز جماعت] in Farsi WikiShia.