The Salat is the most important act of
worship in Islam, and if it is accepted by Allah (SWT), then all other
acts of worship are accepted as well. However, if the Salat is not
accepted, then all other actions also will not be accepted. It has been
narrated from the 6th Imam, Ja 'far ibn Muhammad as-Sadiq, peace be upon
him, quoting his forefathers up to the Messenger of Allah, peace be
upon him and his family, that he said:
“If there was a strem at the house of any one of you in which he washes himself five times a day, will ther remain any dirt on your body? Verily, the likeness of the Salat is the same as the stream. The Person who establishes the ritual prayers clears out his sins thereby, execpt for the sin that take him out from the faith that he believes in”. (Bihar al-Anwar, Vol. 82, Pg. 236)
In Islam, perhaps there is no other Mustahab act that carries such benefits and results as Salat al-Jamaat. As for the importance of it, we quote one narration in which it has been mentioned that:
· If two people form a Jama'at, the reward for one Rak'at will be equal to one hundred and fifty prayers.
· If there are three people, the reward for one Rak'at will be equal to six hundred prayers.
· If there are four people, the reward for one Rak'at will be equal to one thousand two hundred prayers.
· If there are five people, the reward for one Rak'at will be equal to two thousand four hundred prayers, & such does the reward multiply, that if there are more than ten people in the Jama'at, then if all the skies were paper, all the seas were ink, all the trees were pens, and all the men, Jinn, and Angels got together as scribes to record the reward of one Rak'at, they would not be able to do it.
In the same narration, it is mentioned that the Takbir (Allahu Akbar) that the believers say after the leader of the ~alat is better and more beloved to Allah that sixty thousand Hajj and 'Umrah, and better than this world and all that is in it- sixty times over! Each Rak'at that the believer performs in Jama'at is better than offering one hundred thousand dinars in charity to the poor, and his sajdah is better than if he was to free one hundred slaves.
It has been emphatically recommended that all obligatory Salat, with special emphasis on Salat al-Fajr, Maghrib and 'Isha be offered in congregation. More stress has been laid upon those who live in the neighborhood of a Masjid, and upon those who can normally hear the Adhan from their homes.
It is therefore, reprehensible to underestimate or ignore Salat al-Jama'at, and according to the Islamic rulings, it is not permitted to keep away oneself from the Salat al-Jama'at unduly, nor is it proper to abandon it without a justifiable excuse.
It is further Mustahab to wait for some time until the Salat al-Jama'at begins with the intention to participate in the Salat, since a short congregational Salat is better than a prolonged Salat offered alone. It is also better to wait for the Salat al-Jama'at to be established, even if it is offered after the prime time rather than to pray alone. In fact, if a person realizes that the Salat al-Jama'at has been established but he has already read his Salat, it is Mustahab to repeat the prayers again in Jama'at.
“If there was a strem at the house of any one of you in which he washes himself five times a day, will ther remain any dirt on your body? Verily, the likeness of the Salat is the same as the stream. The Person who establishes the ritual prayers clears out his sins thereby, execpt for the sin that take him out from the faith that he believes in”. (Bihar al-Anwar, Vol. 82, Pg. 236)
In Islam, perhaps there is no other Mustahab act that carries such benefits and results as Salat al-Jamaat. As for the importance of it, we quote one narration in which it has been mentioned that:
· If two people form a Jama'at, the reward for one Rak'at will be equal to one hundred and fifty prayers.
· If there are three people, the reward for one Rak'at will be equal to six hundred prayers.
· If there are four people, the reward for one Rak'at will be equal to one thousand two hundred prayers.
· If there are five people, the reward for one Rak'at will be equal to two thousand four hundred prayers, & such does the reward multiply, that if there are more than ten people in the Jama'at, then if all the skies were paper, all the seas were ink, all the trees were pens, and all the men, Jinn, and Angels got together as scribes to record the reward of one Rak'at, they would not be able to do it.
In the same narration, it is mentioned that the Takbir (Allahu Akbar) that the believers say after the leader of the ~alat is better and more beloved to Allah that sixty thousand Hajj and 'Umrah, and better than this world and all that is in it- sixty times over! Each Rak'at that the believer performs in Jama'at is better than offering one hundred thousand dinars in charity to the poor, and his sajdah is better than if he was to free one hundred slaves.
It has been emphatically recommended that all obligatory Salat, with special emphasis on Salat al-Fajr, Maghrib and 'Isha be offered in congregation. More stress has been laid upon those who live in the neighborhood of a Masjid, and upon those who can normally hear the Adhan from their homes.
It is therefore, reprehensible to underestimate or ignore Salat al-Jama'at, and according to the Islamic rulings, it is not permitted to keep away oneself from the Salat al-Jama'at unduly, nor is it proper to abandon it without a justifiable excuse.
It is further Mustahab to wait for some time until the Salat al-Jama'at begins with the intention to participate in the Salat, since a short congregational Salat is better than a prolonged Salat offered alone. It is also better to wait for the Salat al-Jama'at to be established, even if it is offered after the prime time rather than to pray alone. In fact, if a person realizes that the Salat al-Jama'at has been established but he has already read his Salat, it is Mustahab to repeat the prayers again in Jama'at.
1]. The Holy Prophet,
peace be upon him and his family, said: "Verily, when one of Allah's
servants establishes the Salat in congregation and asks Him something
which He does not grant him, Allah will be ashamed until He fulfills
it.”
2]. Imam' Ali ibn Musa al-Riza, peace be upon him, said: "The excellence of the congregation Salat compared to a solitary Salat, is one Rak'at to two thousand Rak'at
3]. The Holy Prophet, peace be upon him and his family, said: "One prayer of a man in congregation is worthier than his forty years of prayers at home (alone).”
4]. Imam Muhammad al-Baqir, peace be upon him, said: "The person who abandons the congregation (Salat) without having an excuse, and only for unwillingness or in order to avoid attending the gathering of Muslims, has no Salat (his Salat will not be accepted).”
5]. Once a blind man came to the Prophet of Allah, peace be upon him and his family, and said that there was not anyone to take him to the Masjid to attend the congregational Salat with him (the Prophet), when he heard the call to prayer. The Holy Prophet, peace be upon him said, "Stretch a rope from your house up to the Masjid and attend the congregational Salat.
2]. Imam' Ali ibn Musa al-Riza, peace be upon him, said: "The excellence of the congregation Salat compared to a solitary Salat, is one Rak'at to two thousand Rak'at
3]. The Holy Prophet, peace be upon him and his family, said: "One prayer of a man in congregation is worthier than his forty years of prayers at home (alone).”
4]. Imam Muhammad al-Baqir, peace be upon him, said: "The person who abandons the congregation (Salat) without having an excuse, and only for unwillingness or in order to avoid attending the gathering of Muslims, has no Salat (his Salat will not be accepted).”
5]. Once a blind man came to the Prophet of Allah, peace be upon him and his family, and said that there was not anyone to take him to the Masjid to attend the congregational Salat with him (the Prophet), when he heard the call to prayer. The Holy Prophet, peace be upon him said, "Stretch a rope from your house up to the Masjid and attend the congregational Salat.
(F) LIMITLESS REWARD
Allah has put a big reward for congregational prayers:
Our Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.w.) & the Imams of Ahlul-Bayt (a.s.) have laid great stress on Cngregational Payer.
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w.) said that if there are only 2 persons (Imam & only one Mamum) in Congregational Prayer, every Rak’at gets the reward of 150 prayers. The reward is increased by the increase in the number of persons. Thus, in a Congregational Prayer of 3 persons, every Rak’at gets reward of 600 persons.
Our Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.w.) & the Imams of Ahlul-Bayt (a.s.) have laid great stress on Cngregational Payer.
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w.) said that if there are only 2 persons (Imam & only one Mamum) in Congregational Prayer, every Rak’at gets the reward of 150 prayers. The reward is increased by the increase in the number of persons. Thus, in a Congregational Prayer of 3 persons, every Rak’at gets reward of 600 persons.
If there are 4, every Rak’at gets reward of 1,200 prayers.
If there are 5, every Rak’at gets reward of 2,400 prayers.
If there are 6, every Rak’at gets reward of 4,800 prayers.
If there are 7, every Rak’at gets reward of 9,600 prayers.
If there are 8, every Rak’at gets reward of 19,200 prayers.
If there are 9, every Rak’at gets reward of 38,400 prayers.
If there are 10, every Rak’at gets reward of 76,800 prayers.
If there are 5, every Rak’at gets reward of 2,400 prayers.
If there are 6, every Rak’at gets reward of 4,800 prayers.
If there are 7, every Rak’at gets reward of 9,600 prayers.
If there are 8, every Rak’at gets reward of 19,200 prayers.
If there are 9, every Rak’at gets reward of 38,400 prayers.
If there are 10, every Rak’at gets reward of 76,800 prayers.
If
there are more than 10, then nobody can estimate its reward except
Allah. (Marhum Allama Sayyid Saeed Akhtar Rizvi – Elements of Islamic
Studies)
It is Mustahab that obligatory prayers, especially the daily prayers, are performed in congregation, & more emphasis has been laid on congregational prayers for Fajr, Maghrib & Isha, & also for those who live in the neighborhood of a Mosque, & are able to hears its Adhan.
It is not permissible to absent oneself from the Congregational Prayers unduly, & it is not proper to abandon Congregational Prayers without a justifiable excuse.
It is Mustahab that obligatory prayers, especially the daily prayers, are performed in congregation, & more emphasis has been laid on congregational prayers for Fajr, Maghrib & Isha, & also for those who live in the neighborhood of a Mosque, & are able to hears its Adhan.
It is not permissible to absent oneself from the Congregational Prayers unduly, & it is not proper to abandon Congregational Prayers without a justifiable excuse.
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