Congregational Prayer: Difference between revisions

On the other hand, leaving congregational prayer without a valid excuse, has been considered as one of the reasons why prayer is not granted, also downgrading it has been paralleled with downgrading [[God]].<ref>Ḥurr al-ʿĀmilī, ''Wasāʾil al-Shīʿa'', vol. 5, p. 295.</ref>

In some traditions a single congregational prayer is counted as more than 40 years of individual prayer in house.<ref>Nūrī, ''Mustadrak al-Wasāʾil'', vol. 6, p. 446.</ref> In another narration the merit of praying behind an 'alim (knowledgeable person) has been equaled to the one behind the [[Prophet (s)]].<ref>Majlisī, ''Biḥār al-anwār'', vol. 88, p. 119.</ref> The Prophet (s) said, "whoever goes toward a [[mosque]], for every step, one thousand good deeds will be written in his record, and he will be raised one thousand levels, and if he dies in this condition, God will order 70 thousands angels to visit him in his grave, accompanying him in his loneliness, until he is resurrected from his grave."<ref>Majlisī, ''Biḥār al-anwār'', vol. 85, p. 434.</ref>

Since the beginning, the Prophet (a) performed his prayers in congregation. In early Islam, congregational prayer was led by the Prophet (a) and [[Imam Ali (a)]] was the only male follower. Then, [[Ja'far al-Tayyar]] (Imam Ali's (a) brother) joined them by the order of [[Abu Talib]] (Imam Ali's (a) father).<ref>Majlisī, ''Biḥār al-anwār'', vol. 85, p. 3.</ref> [[Lady Khadija (a)]] was the first woman participating in congregational prayer.<ref>Ibn Athīr al-Jazarī, ''Jāmiʿ al-uṣūl'', vol. 3 p. 414</ref>

[[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.<ref>Khaṭīb al-Shirbīnī, ''Mughnī l-muḥtāj'', vol. 1, p. 229-230.</ref>

There is almost the same way of how to perform a congregational prayer in all [[Islamic sects]]. [[Imam of congregational prayer]] (who leads the prayer) recites [[Qur'an 1]] (sura al-Fatiha) and a [[sura]] in the two first [[rak'a]]s in behalf of the people following him in prayer, though the people behind him recite other parts quietly, while following the imam in prayer moves and actions.

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 [[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.<ref>Jazīrī, ''Kitāb al-fiqh'', vol. 1, p. 381-385; Khūʾī, ''al-Mustanad fī sharḥ al-ʿurwa al-wuthqā'', vol. 17, p. 229-232.</ref>

There are specific principles in both Shi'a and Sunni schools of thought, for validity of a congregational prayer, such as:

# Lines of congregational prayer must be connected to each other.

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<ref>Najafī, ''Jawāhir al-Kalām'', vol. 13, p. 275.</ref> and have a correct recitation. <ref>Yazdī, ''al-ʿUrwa al-wuthqā'', vol. 1, p. 798.</ref>

Moreover in hadiths, some attributes are mentioned for the meritorious Imam of congregational prayer such as being superior to other people in terms of knowledge and [[piety]], trustworthy, and be counted as adornment of the [[mosque]].

Shi'a [[jurist]]s emphasized on the qualification of [['Adala]] (being just) so much that they explicitly said: the prayer behind an unjust Imam is invalid.

Jurists from all the Islamic sects believe unanimously that a woman cannot lead a congregational prayer if there is a man among followers;<ref>Najafī, ''Jawāhir al-Kalām'', vol. 13, p. 336-337.</ref> however some Shi'a jurists allow it only if the followers are all female.<ref>Najafī, ''Jawāhir al-Kalām'', vol. 13, p. 337.</ref>

* Greeting with other people and asking about the ones who are absent.

The great emphasis on congregational prayer in [[Islam]] indicates its great impact and result on Muslims' spiritual and social life. Some of the most important impacts are: manifestation and publicizing the Islam and [[ikhlas]] (loyalty to God),<ref>Ḥurr ʿĀmilī, ''Wasāʾil al-Shīʿa'', 1409 AH, vol. 8, p. 287</ref> showing the greatness of the religion, stoking fear in the heart of enemies and peace in believers', developing and deepening the prayer culture in the community, boosting the spirit of unity and empathy, removing the authoritarian and solitary spirit, cooperating and solving others' problems, companionship with righteous people, learning knowledge, piety, justice and principles, and etc.{{cn}}

The congregational prayers that are held in [[al-Masjid al-Haram]] and [[al-Masjid al-Nabawi]] are considered to be the most important congregational prayers which have been performed by Muslims from various countries and different sects over centuries. They always were platform for unity and solidarity among the Muslims.{{cn}}  

This event is important because at that time [[Shi'a]] could not even perform [[prayer]] in a mosque in [[Beirut]] without [[taqiyya]] (precautionary dissimulation), but after his journey everything changed and Shi'a was treated like other Islamic sects.{{cn}}