BASIC FACTS ABOUT ISLAM

If we knew about the excellence of congregational prayers and the benefits it brings to us and our community we would rush to pray all of our prayers in the Masjid.   Praying together increases the bonds of brotherhood by meeting and greeting on a regular basis, provides the means of knowing the needs or conditions of our neighbors, and uplifts our soul by seeing other people who are performing ibada.  Imagine a person who prays all of his salat in his home, and he rarely goes out except to work.  How then shall his neighbors know he is sick -so that they can visit him; in need of support – so that they can offer help; in need of friendship- so that they can increase their bonds of caring… Secondly, praying in congregation improves our behavior, increases us in knowledge and also faith when we stay for short lectures or group discussions which invariably occur after prayers.

By joining congregational prayers we confirm our presence in the community, become aware of possible activities which our families may enjoy, or provide the community with our own skills and knowledge.  Recently, while looking for a home to purchase, my son made a comment about the house we had just seen, “one of the best selling points of the house is that is is close to a nice masjid.”  I quickly agreed happy that he had thought of this.  Instead of being happy with my comment my children laughed because they meant literally the selling points of THE HOUSE; however, isn’t location a selling point?  I ask that God create or increase the desire among the Muslims to attend masjid for all of their fard prayers especially fajr and isha.

Additionally, let us not forget some hadith about sunna prayers:

1.  Zaid bin Thabit (May Allah be pleased with him)reported: The Prophet (PBUH) said, “O people! perform your (voluntary) Salat (prayers) in your homes because the best Salat of a man is the one he performs at home, except the obligatory Salat.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].  This hadith shows us that we should offer our fard salat in the masjid and sunna prayers in the home.  This is done for a few reasons; to bless our homes by praying within them, to be an example to the rest of our household to offer salat, and also to prevent our hearts from showing off .

2.  Ibn `Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Observe part of the [Nawafil (voluntary)] Salat (prayers) in your homes. Do not turn your homes into graves.”   [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].  Our homes become as dark graves with no plans of worship and the light which is brought by ibada as well as the blessings upon the home and those who pray within.

Finally, ”The distinguishing factor between kufr and Imaan is the deliberate neglect of Salaat.” (Muslim)  Let us be of those who pray on its time with khushoo (calm focus).

The fact that both, the Qur’an and Sunnah, have laid great stress on the congregational prayer and described its unique excellence, shows that the fard prayer is meant to be offered collectively, and no one in the Islamic community should even think of observing it individually unless one has to do so on the account of a genuine reason. The Qur’an says:

“…and bend down in ruku with those who bend down in ruku.” [Al-Baqarah 2:43]

Arguing from this verse, the commentators are generally of the view that prayer has to be offered collectively. The importance of the congregational prayer in Islam is so great that the Muslims have been enjoined to observe it even in the battlefield where danger to life is extreme. The Qur’an has prescribed the following way:

” And when you, O Prophet, are among the Muslims and are going to lead them in salah (in a state of war), let a party stand behind you, carrying their weapons with them. When they have made their prostrations, they should fall back and let another party of them, who have not yet offered salah, say it with you and they too, should be on guard and keep their weapons with them.” [An-Nisaa 4:102] Read the rest of this entry »