The most correct opinion is that it is obligatory for men to pray congregational prayer in the Masjid.
Hadith #320:
إنما جعل الإمام ليؤتم به - The Imam has been appointed to be followed
There are four cases:
1) مسابقة - You race and go faster than the Imam by performing the pillars before he does
E.g. You make Rukoo' before the Imam does
This is forbidden. And if a person deliberately does so, his prayer is nullified.
2) تخلف - You delay performing the pillar a long time after the Imam finishes it
E.g. The Imam says Allahu Akbar and goes down for Rukoo, and the Ma'moon remains standing until the Imam stands up for سمع الله لمن حمده.
3) You perform the pillar the same time the Imam does
If a person does so with Takbeeratul-Ihram, his prayer is incorrect.
4) You follow the Imam
This is the Sunnah. You should follow the Imam; not go before him, not delay after him, not go at the same time he does. Even if you did not finish completing a pillar, and the Imam moves on to the next one, you should follow him.
E.g. You did not finish reciting Surah Al-Fatihah and the Imam goes down for Rukoo'. You should follow the Imam, not complete your recitation. The recitation of the Imam is the recitation for the Ma'moon.
و إذا صلى قاعدًافصلوا قعودا أجمعين - And if he prays sitting, all of you pray sitting
Even if the Imam is sitting for his prayer due to an excuse, you should sit for it. This is the extent you should follow the Imam.
Hadith #321:
تقدموا فأئتموا بي - Come forward, and follow my lead
The Prophet ﷺ is showing us how the distance between the Imam and the first row in congregation should be. The congregation is following the Imam, so they should be close to him so they can hear and follow him. There should be just enough space for the first row to prostrate, not much more.
و ليأتم بكم من بعدكم - And let those behind you follow you
If you cannot hear or see the Imam, you follow the rows in front of you.
Q. Can you pray behind an Imam on the TV or radio?
A. No, the condition of congregation is the sequence of the rows. Only if you are praying with rows in front of you until the Imam is your prayer correct.
Hadith #322:
This Hadith is evidence that you are allowed to follow the Imam even if he is in a place you do not see him. As long as you are following him, your prayer is correct.
أفضل صلاة المرء في بيته إلا مكتوبة - The most excellent prayer of a person is in his house except that which is prescribed (the five obligatory prayers)
Also if you want more reward for Voluntary Prayers, regardless if you are a man or woman, you should pray it at home. The Prophet ﷺ used to pray the Rawatib at home. And he ﷺ said:
اجْعَلُوا فى بُيُوتِكُمْ مِنْ صَلاَتِكُمْ وَلاَ تَتَّخِذُوهَا قُبُورًا
Offer some of your prayers in your houses and do not make them graves. [Al-Bukhari]
No one prays in graves. The more you pray in your house, the more Allah will put light, Barakah, and good in your house. If you do not pray in your house the Devils will come, there will be no Barakah or goodness, and there will always be problems in the house.
The congregation joined the Prophet ﷺ when he was praying Qiyam Al-Layl. Qiyam Al-Layl was obligatory for the Prophet ﷺ and Sunnah for the congregation. From this we benefit that if the Imam is praying voluntary and you want to pray obligatory, you can follow him in actions while having a different intention.
There are some people who miss Isha in Ramadan and pray Tarawih with the Imam. This is wrong; you should pray 'Isha first.
Hadith #323:
Muadh رضي الله غنه used to pray the obligatory prayer with the Prophet ﷺ and then lead the people in prayer which was obligatory for them, but Sunnah for him. Some use this as evidence that that you can pray 'Isha behind the Imam who is praying Tarawih during Ramadan.
"أتريد أن تكون يا معاذ فتّانا" - O Muadh, do you want to become a Fattan?
i.e. You will make the people leave their religion by putting them them into Fitnah (Trial). They would end up giving up the prayer.
The Imam should take all the situations of people into consideration. If you are praying Tarawih and the people behind you want to pray a full chapter, then do so. But if you know there are weak, sick, and old people praying behind you, you should not prolong the prayer.
Hadith #324:
This was during the time of the sickness of the Prophet ﷺ; before his death. Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه led the people and they began the prayer standing. The Prophet ﷺ would take a bath from time to time during his illness. When he took a bath he gained some strength so prayed with them, but while sitting.
"حتىً جلس عن يسار أبي بكر" - And sat on the left side of Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه
If two are praying congregational prayer, the Imam should be on the left and the one following the Imam should on the right. The third one will come and join the Imam on his left.
يقتدي أبو بكر بصلاة النبي و يقتدي الناس بصلاة إبي بكر - Abu Bakr was following the prayer of the Prophet ﷺ, and the people were following the prayer of Abu Bakr
This is called المبلغ. Abu Bakr followed the Prophet ﷺ, and the people followed Abu Bakr. This happens in the Haram now. When they were asked why they still do it in the Haram, they said in case the microphone goes off.
Hadith #325:
You can prolong your prayer as much as you want, but if you lead the people. pray according to the Sunnah.
There are some Masjid who pray Tarawih in ten minutes. طمأنينة (Tranquility) is a pillar of the prayer.
The Haram do not change to 11 because the people are used to praying 20. This is the same reason the Prophet ﷺ did not change the Ka'bah back to how it originally was.
Conditions of being an Imam
Hadith #326:
The Athan is فرض كفاية (A collective duty); if one does it, its obligation is dropped from the rest of the people.
1) He should be the one who knows the Quran most
This Hadith is evidence that a distinguished boy (مميز) can lead the prayer.
عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ سَلِمَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ لِي أَبُو قِلاَبَةَ أَلاَ تَلْقَاهُ فَتَسْأَلَهُ، قَالَ فَلَقِيتُهُ فَسَأَلْتُهُ فَقَالَ كُنَّا بِمَاءٍ مَمَرَّ النَّاسِ، وَكَانَ يَمُرُّ بِنَا الرُّكْبَانُ فَنَسْأَلُهُمْ مَا لِلنَّاسِ مَا لِلنَّاسِ مَا هَذَا الرَّجُلُ فَيَقُولُونَ يَزْعُمُ أَنَّ اللَّهَ أَرْسَلَهُ أَوْحَى إِلَيْهِ، أَوْ أَوْحَى اللَّهُ بِكَذَا. فَكُنْتُ أَحْفَظُ ذَلِكَ الْكَلاَمَ، وَكَأَنَّمَا يُغْرَى فِي صَدْرِي، وَكَانَتِ الْعَرَبُ تَلَوَّمُ بِإِسْلاَمِهِمِ الْفَتْحَ، فَيَقُولُونَ اتْرُكُوهُ وَقَوْمَهُ، فَإِنَّهُ إِنْ ظَهَرَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَهْوَ نَبِيٌّ صَادِقٌ. فَلَمَّا كَانَتْ وَقْعَةُ أَهْلِ الْفَتْحِ بَادَرَ كُلُّ قَوْمٍ بِإِسْلاَمِهِمْ، وَبَدَرَ أَبِي قَوْمِي بِإِسْلاَمِهِمْ، فَلَمَّا قَدِمَ قَالَ جِئْتُكُمْ وَاللَّهِ مِنْ عِنْدِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَقًّا فَقَالَ " صَلُّوا صَلاَةَ كَذَا فِي حِينِ كَذَا، وَصَلُّوا كَذَا فِي حِينِ كَذَا، فَإِذَا حَضَرَتِ الصَّلاَةُ، فَلْيُؤَذِّنْ أَحَدُكُمْ، وَلْيَؤُمَّكُمْ أَكْثَرُكُمْ قُرْآنًا ". فَنَظَرُوا فَلَمْ يَكُنْ أَحَدٌ أَكْثَرَ قُرْآنًا مِنِّي، لِمَا كُنْتُ أَتَلَقَّى مِنَ الرُّكْبَانِ، فَقَدَّمُونِي بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ، وَأَنَا ابْنُ سِتٍّ أَوْ سَبْعِ، سِنِينَ وَكَانَتْ عَلَىَّ بُرْدَةٌ، كُنْتُ إِذَا سَجَدْتُ تَقَلَّصَتْ عَنِّي، فَقَالَتِ امْرَأَةٌ مِنَ الْحَىِّ أَلاَ تُغَطُّوا عَنَّا اسْتَ قَارِئِكُمْ. فَاشْتَرَوْا فَقَطَعُوا لِي قَمِيصًا، فَمَا فَرِحْتُ بِشَىْءٍ فَرَحِي بِذَلِكَ الْقَمِيصِ.
Narrated Amr Ibn Salama: We were at a place which was a thoroughfare for the people, and the caravans used to pass by us and we would ask them, "What is wrong with the people? What is wrong with the people? Who is that man?. They would say, "That man claims that Allah has sent him (as an Apostle), that he has been divinely inspired, that Allah has revealed to him such-and-such." I used to memorize that (Divine) Talk, and feel as if it was inculcated in my chest (i.e. mind) And the 'Arabs (other than Quraish) delayed their conversion to Islam till the Conquest (of Mecca). They used to say." "Leave him (i.e. Muhammad) and his people Quraish: if he overpowers them then he is a true Prophet. So, when Mecca was conquered, then every tribe rushed to embrace Islam, and my father hurried to embrace Islam before (the other members of) my tribe. When my father returned (from the Prophet) to his tribe, he said, "By Allah, I have come to you from the Prophet (ﷺ) for sure!" The Prophet (ﷺ) afterwards said to them, 'Offer such-and-such prayer at such-and-such time, and when the time for the prayer becomes due, then one of you should pronounce the Adhan (for the prayer), and let the one amongst you who knows Qur'an most should, lead the prayer." So they looked for such a person and found none who knew more Qur'an than I because of the Qur'anic material which I used to learn from the caravans. They therefore made me their Imam ((to lead the prayer) and at that time I was a boy of six or seven years, wearing a Burda (i.e. a black square garment) proved to be very short for me (and my body became partly naked). A lady from the tribe said, "Won't you cover the anus of your reciter for us?" So they bought (a piece of cloth) and made a shirt for me. I had never been so happy with anything before as I was with that shirt." [Bukhari]
He was happy with the clothes more than he was happy to the be the Imam, because he was only six or seven. If you have children, let them memorize Quran while they are young. Put them in a school or Halaqah where they can memorize the Quran.
This Hadith shows us that the Quran raises people.
Hadith #327:
The One who memorizes the Quran most should be the Imam
If two are equal, then the one who knows the Sunnah more.
If they are equal, then the first to emigrate.*
If they are equal, then the one who has been Muslim longer.
*Emigration is to emigrate from a disbelieving country to a Muslim country.
If there is a Mosque in your neighborhood and the ministry appointed an Imam, no one else can choose to be an Imam, even if he knows more Quran than him. This Imam has an authority over the place. There is only one case where it is allowed - when the Imam gives him permission to be an Imam.
Hadith #328:
This is a weak Hadith but it is مجمع عليه; all the Scholars are in consensus that a woman cannot lead men in prayer.
و لا فاجر مؤمنا - Nor a sinner to lead a believer
A sinner cannot lead the believers, unless he is a ruler.The companions used to pray behind their ruler while their rulers were sinners. This is because they had to follow the Ruler.
Hadith #329:
The rows behind the Imam should be:
1) Close together without gaps. If there are gaps the Shaytan will come between them and ruin their prayer.
2) The rows should be near to each other, as much as space is needed for prostration.
3) Neck to neck. I.e. Make your lines straight, not one person in front and another behind.
Which rows are the best to stand in?
Hadith #330:
This refers to if women are praying behind men. But if it is in a separate place, the first row is best for women.
The best side of the rows is the right. The Prophet ﷺ said,
إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلاَئِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى مَيَامِنِ الصُّفُوفِ
Allah and His Angels send blessings on the right side of the rows. [Ibn Majah]
The worst rows are the last, because it means the person came late.
Hadith #331:
Ibn Abbas was sleeping with his Aunty; Maymoona, the wife of the Prophet ﷺ. He was eleven years old and woke up when the Prophet ﷺ woke up for the night prayer.
In another narration, his uncle Abbas sent him to sleep with his aunty and describe the late night prayer of the Prophet ﷺ.
صليت مع رسول الله ذات ليلة - I prayed with Allah's Messenger ﷺ one night
It is allowed to pray voluntary prayer behind an Imam who is praying obligatory, because night prayer is obligatory for the Prophet ﷺ.
فجعلني عن يمينه - And made me go round to his right side
The Mamoon should be right to the Imam.
فأخذ رسول الله برأسي من ورائي - Whereupon he took me by the back of my head
If you want to change the position, it should be from the back of the Imam, not the front.
From this Hadith we benefit that it is allowed for a boy to pray with the Imam; their prayer will be considered congregational.
Hadith #332:
Umm Sulaym is the mother of Anas, and she invited the Prophet ﷺ. The Prophet ﷺ accepted her invitation, ate, and then prayed, because the Barakah in a place comes by worship.
The Prophet ﷺ was in front
Anas and the orphan were behind him
Umm Sulaym was behind them.
If there is an Imam and only one man and woman, the man stands to the right of the Imam, and the woman stands at the back.
Hadith #333:
He entered the Mosque, and if the Prophet ﷺ raised from Rukoo he would have missed the Rak'ah, so he did Rukoo and walked in it until he reached them. This is incorrect.
You have caught the Rak'ah until the Imam says سمع الله لمن حمده. If you join him making Rukoo', the Rak'ah is counted for you, even if you did not recite Surah Al-Fatihah.
Hadith #334:
If a man comes to the prayer and all the rows are complete, what should he do?
1) Some Scholars say that because he is praying alone in congregation, it is not valid.
2) Others say that if he tries his best to pull a man, this man will be in a lesser level because the row in front is superior to the row behind. Al-Albani رحمه الله said the Hadith about pulling a man is a very weak Hadith, so you should not act upon it.
As-Sa'di رحمه الله and Ibn Qayyim رحمه الله said if he tried his best but was not able to and prayed standing alone behind them, his prayer is correct.
If you came to the Mosque and did not find any row to join, you can pray standing alone, and it is correct. This is the most correct opinion. The part about pulling a man is a very weak part of the Hadith.
Hadith #335:
You should go to the prayer in tranquility and peace, even if you are going to miss some parts of it.
Hadith #336:
This shows us that the more people that pray, the better and more beloved they are to Allah, and the more they will be rewarded.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
مَنْ غَدَا إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ وَرَاحَ أَعَدَّ اللَّهُ لَهُ نُزُلَهُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ كُلَّمَا غَدَا أَوْ رَاحَ
Allah will prepare for him who goes to the mosque (every) morning and in the afternoon (for the congregational prayer) an honorable place in Paradise with good hospitality for (what he has done) every morning and afternoon goings. [Al-Bukhari]
Is there congregational prayer for women? Yes.
Hadith #337:
The Prophet ﷺ used to visit Umm Waraqa رضي الله عنه and she had memorized the Quran.
"أهل دارها"
The people of the house, meaning the ladies of the house. Perhaps she did so in order to teach them.
This Hadith is evidence that women can pray congregational prayer. It is allowable, but not Sunnah to do all the time.
The female Imam stands with the congregation, not in front of them.
Can a blind person be an Imam? Yes.
Hadith #338:
This occurred in one of the expeditions.
Hadith #339:
Pray the funeral prayer over him if he dies and let him be your Imam when he is alive. As long he is a Muslim and says لا اله الا الله you can pray behind and over him.
However there are two exceptions:
1) If he commits suicide. The Ruler does not pray over him, but the rest of people can, to show people how awful a crime it is.
2) If he stole from the booty.
Hadith #340:
Say the Takbeeratul-Ihram and join the Imam in any position he is. Do not wait for him to get into a certain position before you join him.
Some people join without performing Takbeeratul-Ihram, and their prayer is incorrect, because they did not begin their prayer at all.
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