Friday, September 25, 2015

Namaz Baa Jamaat Ki Ahmiat by Sheikh Abdul Aziz

Prayer in congregation is considered to have more social and spiritual benefit than praying by oneself. The congregation is led by a person called an imam, who is usually chosen as the person with the best knowledge of the Quran, preferably someone who has memorized the entire Quran (a hafiz).

The remaining people stand behind the imam in straight parallel rows, all facing the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca. In the first row behind the imam, if available, would be another hafiz to correct the imam in case a mistake is made during the performance of the salat.

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 25 times greater than offering the prayer alone at home.

Congregational prayer teaches unity of expression, direction, objective, and leadership. And since the most pious, meritorious and knowledgeable person must be the one to lead the congregation, it is a kind of training and promotion of knowledge, piety and justice.

Congregational prayer gets rid of rancor, resentments and suspicions between individuals and elevates the level of knowledge, servitude and humility among those praying. It is because of all these effects that congregational prayer has been much enjoined.

Even when a blind man requested exemption from going to the mosque, the Prophet (S) said to him: “Tie a rope from your house to the mosque and with its help you will arrive at the mosque (and return home afterward).” The Messenger of Allah (S) did not even permit blind men to abandon congregational prayer.

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