IMPORTANCE AND VIRTUES OF PRAYING IN JAMAA'AH (CONGREGATION)

The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) said- 

"Salah in congregation is twenty-seven times more meritorious than a Salah performed individually."- [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. 

 Praying in Jamaa’ah (congregation) in the mosque is one of the most important rituals of Islam, and it is obligatory for every man past the age of adolescence who is able to hear the call to prayer, because of a great deal of evidence, including the words of the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam): 

“Whoever hears the call to prayer and does not respond, his prayer is not valid, except the one who has an excuse." -[Ibn Maajah]

When it comes to offering Salah in Jamaa'ah (congregation) you might want to neglect it. But please, if you have genuine love for Allah (Swt), make time to offer your five times Salah daily in congregation. Do not for a moment think that "I'll pray later" because they take ten minutes in the Jamaa'ah, that's too long, whereas I can finish  that within five minutes. You should never say that, because you are losing on a lot of rewards. Remember the prayer offered in congregation is 27 times more the reward. Keep that in mind 

It is extremely important to join the Jamaa'ah while it is going on, unless you have a very genuine reason that prevents you from doing that. 


HOW IMPORTANT IS SALAH IN CONGREGATION IMPORTANT FOR MEN?

It is stated in a Hadith narrated by Muslim that Abu Hurayrah said:

 A blind man came to the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) and said, “O Messenger of Allaah, I do not have anyone to lead me to the mosque,” and he asked the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) to grant him a concession allowing him to pray in his house. He granted him that concession, then when he turned to leave he called him back and said, “Can you hear the call to prayer?” He said, “Yes.” He said, ‘Then answer it.” 

Imagine, he was a blind man and he wasn't allowed to neglect the Jama'ah, then what is the excuse that you have?

So when the Jamaa'ah is going on, one must join and pray in it, because on the Day of Judgement we wish for the very smallest of goods deeds that could save us from the Fire.

VIRTUES OF PRAYING SALAH IN JAMAA'AH (CONGREGATION)

- It helps you concentrate more in Salah
- When you stand in a proper Saff, Shaytaan is not there

The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) said- 

“Prayer offered in a group is twenty-five times better than prayer offered at home or in the marketplace. If any one of you does wudhu and does it well, then comes to the mosque for no other purpose than to pray, then he does not take a single step but Allaah raises him in status one degree thereby and removes one sin from him, until he enters the mosque. Then he is in a state of prayer so long as he is waiting for the prayer, and the angels send blessings upon him so long as he remains in the spot where he prayed, saying ‘O Allaah, forgive him, O Allaah, have mercy on him,’ so long as he does not pass wind.” [Bukhari]

Who among us does not want his status to be raised and his sins erased, and to have the angels of the Most Merciful pray for forgiveness for him?


A Sahaabi would come leaning on two other men because of sickness, so that he could stand in the row of worshipers, even though he would be excused if he did not come and pray in congregation. What was it that motivated him? His faith. 

The one who is keen does not ask whether it is obligatory or not, rather he is keen to follow the Sunnah and the way of the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam)

May Allah make it easy for all the brothers to offer their Salah in congregation in the Masjidh five times a day.