Excellence of Offering Prayers in Congregation

By Imam Mashood Dagbo

Prayer constitutes the second pillar in Islam, while offering it in congregation is more rewarding than in private. The congregational prayer indeed, is a significant aspect of Islamic worship, emphasizing unity, discipline, and spiritual growth. In general, prayer is a fundamental act of worship, a means of connecting and communicating with Allah, as He says in al-Qur’an 4: 103, thus: “And establish prayer, for indeed, prayer is a duty upon the believers at appointed times”.

While, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) established the excellence of offering prayers in the congregation by attracting twenty-seven rewards as well as some other benefits, such as:

1. Strengthening bonds among Muslims and promoting a sense of Ummah’s power.

2. Encouraging punctuality and consistency in worship.

3. Ennhancing spiritual focus through collective energy and shared intention.

Similarly, one of the scholars of Islam; Imam Nawawy, commented that the congregation prayer is a sign of Islam’s strength and a means of mutual support among believers. Also, Shaykh ibn Taymiyyah highlighted that congregational prayer in mosques is a symbol of Islamic unity and a way to manifest the religion openly. Equally, other scholars of the modern era, stressed its role in fostering community cohesion, especially in diverse societies like Nigeria, where it promotes social harmony.

Meanwhile, the piece as my weekly tradition linked to the Hadith reported by Ibn Umar (SA) that Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said: “Prayer offered in a congregation is twenty-seven degrees more excellent than prayer offered by a single person” (Sālih Muslim 650a). The Hadith is further elaborated by itemizing its lessons and jurisprudence as follows:

1. The Hadith emphasizes the superiority of praying in congregation over praying alone

2. Hadith highlights the benefit of congregational prayers as a factor to improve communal love, togetherness and unity and mutual support in acts of devotion

3. Hadith encourages congregational prayer as it fosters discipline, and a sense of belonging among Muslims in the community

4. Hadith underscores the rewards attached to the congregational prayer in multiples of twenty-seven times over individual prayers

5. Hadith legislates the observation of prayers for males in congregation in the mosque as compulsory except for legal reasons, such as; illness, heavy rain, fear etc.

6. Hadith further establishes that congregational prayer starts from two individuals, one as Imam and other as congregant either in the mosque or elsewhere.

7. Hadith infers that women, children, travelers, and those with valid excuses (e.g., illness, extreme weather) are exempted from offering their congregational prayers in the mosque.

8. Hadith encourages Muslims to always do their prayers in congregation preferably in the mosque to gain both spiritual and communal advantages

9. Hadith refers that other Hadith mentions the gain of multiple rewards in twenty-five folds for observing prayer in congregation. Both are genuine as the occasions of recording it are only different and form the same Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

Prayers:

Please, O Allah! As we witnessed the first Jumua’h in the month of Jumādāl-Akhirah, 1447 AH, may He bless us with blessings He bestowed the month, relieve our worries, accept our prayers and requests, guide us and our relatives, to your worship and accept all our acts from us as Ibadah.

O Allah! We confessed our sins before you and our hardship we are going through, please forgive us and cushion the effect of the hardship by Your Mighty and guide our leaders with the right guidance.

O Allah! alleviate our abject poverty, save us from bad governance, protect Muslims from all worrying lands, restore the world and Nigeria in particular, back to normal from pandemic, insecurity, hunger, banditry, kidnapping, war and other social evils rampaging the world with the blessings you accorded this month. Amin.