View source for Religion:Congregational prayer (Islam)

{{Short description|Islamic prayer}}
{{religious text primary|date=September 2017}}
{{Islam|practices}}

[[File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Moslimmannen tijdens het gebed op vrijdag in de moskee Tulehu TMnr 20017952.jpg|thumb|Congregational prayer at a mosque in Indonesia]]
 
'''Salat al-jama‘ah''' ('''Congregational Prayer''') or prayer in congregation (''[[Religion:Jamia|jama'ah]]'') is considered to have more [[Social:Social|social]] and spiritual benefit than praying by oneself. When praying in congregation, the people stand in straight parallel rows behind the chosen [[Religion:Imam|imam]], facing [[Qibla|qibla]]. The imam, who leads the congregation in salat, is usually chosen to be a scholar or the one who has the best [[Philosophy:Knowledge|knowledge]] of the Qur'an, preferably someone who has memorised it in its entirety (a ''hafiz'') . 
In the first row behind the '''[[Religion:Imam|Imam]]''', if available, would be another ''hafiz'' to correct the '''Imam''' in case a mistake is made during the performance of the salat. The prayer is performed as normal, with the congregation following the actions and movements of the [[Religion:Imam|imam]] as he performs the salat.<ref>{{cite web |title=تعريف و معنى صلاة الجماعة في معجم المعاني الجامع - معجم عربي عربي |url=https://www.almaany.com/ar/dict/ar-ar/%D8%B5%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%A9/ |website=almaany}}</ref><ref name="al-islam.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.al-islam.com/Content.aspx?pageid=1135&ContentID=1110|title=عرض المقالة - المحراب - موقع الإسلام|website=al-islam|access-date=2015-01-20|archive-date=2017-06-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170627181322/http://www.al-islam.com/Content.aspx?pageid=1135&ContentID=1110|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Requirements for the imam==
The congregational [[Unsolved:Prayer|prayer]] is led by an [[Religion:Imam|imam]]. The imam should be just and well aware of Islamic jurisprudence. The Imaam stands in front by himself while the followers stand behind him in straight lines, all facing the Qiblah (the direction of Ka’bah). The most worthy of leading people in prayer is the one who is the best in memorizing and reciting the Quran. If they are equal, then the one who has the deepest knowledge of [[Religion:Sunnah|Sunnah]]. If they still are equal in the knowledge of Sunnah, then the oldest of the group. The Messenger of Allah  said: “The most versed in recitation of the Book of Allah leads the people in the prayer. If they are equal, then the one most aware of the Sunnah. If they all are equal, the one who emigrated earlier. If they all are equal, then the oldest of them.” [Muslim]<ref>{{cite web |title=The congregational prayer |url=https://www.islamweb.net/en/article/138848/ |website=islamweb}}</ref>

===Conditions of the imam===
Imam of the Congregational Prayer should have special conditions:  
*Intellect.<ref>{{cite book|last1=an-Najafi|first1= Shaykh Muhammad Hassan|title=Jawahir al-Kalam fi Sharh Sharai al-Islam|volume=13|page=323}}</ref>
* just.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Wahid Khorasani |first1=As-Samahat al-Marje' Sheikh Husain |title=Islamic Laws |date=16 December 2014 |isbn=978-1505606799 |page=237 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=feAJBgAAQBAJ&q=Baligh%2C+sane&pg=PA237}}</ref>
* mature (Baligh/Adult).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ph.D. |first1=John Renard |title=The Handy Islam Answer Book (Handy Answer Book) |date=19 January 2015 |publisher=Visible Ink Press; Illustrated Edition (January 13, 2015) |isbn=978-1578595105 |page=242 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NoqDBwAAQBAJ&q=Imam+of+the+Congregational+Prayer+be+mature&pg=PA242}}</ref>
* being a [[Religion:Muslims|Muslim]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=an-Najafi|first1= Shaykh Muhammad Hassan|title=Jawahir al-Kalam fi Sharh Sharai al-Islam|volume=13|page=373-375}}</ref>

==Conditions==
* There are not any obstacles between Imam jamaat and prayers or prayers and other prayers.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Akhtar Rizvi |first1=Sayyid Saeed |title=Hijab: The Dress of Modesty in Islam |date=January 1992 |publisher=Bilal Muslim Mission of Tanzania, 1992 |isbn=9789976956740 |page=18 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rP2qAgAAQBAJ&q=jamaat+prayer&pg=PA18}}</ref>
* The minimum number of people required for the Congregational Prayer to be valid is two.<ref name="Sistani">{{cite web |last1=Hussaini Sistani |first1=Sayyid Ali |title=Summary of the Rulings (Ahkam) of Salat al-Jama'at |date=15 March 2016 |url=https://www.al-islam.org/summary-rulings-ahkam-salat-al-jamaat-ayatullah-sayyid-ali-hussaini-sistani/summary-rulings-ahkam |publisher=Islamic Humanitarian Service (IHS)}}</ref>
* In the Congregational Prayer, Imam will read Surah [[Religion:Al-Fatiha|Al-Fatiha]] and then any surah of the Quran aloud except for [[Religion:Zuhr prayer|zuhr]] and [[Religion:Asr prayer|Asr]] prayer. People praying behind the Imam should keep silent during the Fatihah. They should, however, individually read all the other things in salah apart from fatihah.<ref name="Sistani"/>

== Narrations ==
Prophet [[Biography:Muhammad|Muhammad]] himself never omitted even a single congregational [[Unsolved:Prayer|prayer]]. Even in his sickness, it was strenuous for him to walk; nonetheless, with the aid of two of his companions he came (while his auspicious feet were dragging on the ground) to the mosque and prayed with the congregation.

Congregation prayer in a mosque, or masjid, is particularly encouraged for men and is optional for women. Muslim men are encouraged to offer as many of the five daily prayers in the mosque as possible, as the reward for doing so is at least 27 times greater than offering the prayer alone at home.<ref name="al-islam.com"/>

===Some benefits of congregational prayer===
Congregational prayer has worldly and otherworldly benefits:<ref name="al-islam.org">{{cite web |last1=Akhtar Rizvi |first1=Sayyid Saeed |title=Salat al-Jama'ah (congregational prayer) |url=https://www.al-islam.org/elements-islamic-studies-allamah-saeed-akhtar-rizvi/lesson-52-salat-al-jamaah-congregational-prayer |website=al-islam |date=25 May 2014 |publisher=Bilal Muslim Mission of Tanzania}}</ref>
* Islamic equality
* Unity
* love and Collaboration
* Discipline
* validity of Islam
* endless Reward

==See also==
* [[Religion:Dua|Dua]]
* [[Religion:Du'a Kumayl|Du'a Kumayl]]
* [[Religion:Sabr|Sabr]]
* [[Religion:Tasbih|Tasbih]]
* [[Religion:Sujud Sahwi|Sujud Sahwi]]
* [[Religion:Sujud Tilawa|Sujud Tilawa]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book|author=Muhammad Naasir ad-Deen al-Albaani|title=The Prophet's Prayer Described|publisher=[[Organization:University of Southern California|University of Southern California]] Muslim Students' Association|url=http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/pillars/prayer/albaani/prayer_1.html|access-date=3 January 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210181940/http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/pillars/prayer/albaani/prayer_1.html|archive-date=10 February 2009}}
* {{cite web|title=How to Perform the Daily Prayers|work=Al-Islam.org|url=http://al-islam.org/nutshell/files/prayers.pdf|accessdate=3 January 2007}} How to pray according to Shi'a Ja'fari School of law

==External links==
* [http://www.praytime.info Prayer Tutorial, Prayer Times and Qibla directions]
* [http://www.islam-globe.com/books/Fisabilillah/22%20Salaah.pdf E-Book: Salaah - A Detailed Guide to Prayer] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131127090704/http://www.islam-globe.com/books/Fisabilillah/22%20Salaah.pdf |date=2013-11-27 }}
* [http://eqibla.com/tools/iphone iPhone app "alQibla" for worldwide prayer timings and qibla direction from anywhere on earth]
* [http://www.salat-time.com/ Determining time of Salat anywhere]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20011109122134/http://islam.org/Video/iis/salat.ram Salat presentation in video, including how to perform salat in detail]
* [http://www.islamicity.com/prayertimes Worldwide prayer time calculation]
* [https://github.com/sancho21/praytimes-java Java library to calculate prayer time]


[[Category:Salah]]
[[Category:Salah terminology]]

{{Sourceattribution|Congregational prayer (Islam)}}