Some scholars say that the congregation should not be repeated; rather, they should pray individually. Others say that it should be repeated, and this is the correct view and the position of the Hanbali school. The evidence for this is as follows:

First: the hadith of Ubayy ibn Ka'b, in which the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “A man’s prayer with another man is better than his prayer alone; his prayer with two men is better than his prayer with one man; and the more numerous they are, the more beloved it is to Allah.” (1) This is explicit evidence that a man’s prayer with another man is better than his prayer alone. If we were to say that a congregation should not be held, we would be regarding what is inferior as superior, which contradicts the text.

Second: one day, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was sitting with his Companions when a man entered after the prayer had ended. He said, “Who will give charity to this man by praying with him?” One of those present stood and prayed with the man. (2) This is explicit evidence for repeating the congregation after the regular congregational prayer, since the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, encouraged someone to pray with this man. As for the statement of one who says, “This is an act of charity; whereas, if two people pray in the mosque after having missed the prayer, the prayer of each of them is obligatory,” the reply is: if one who has already prayed is instructed to give charity by praying with this man, then how could one who has not prayed not be instructed to pray with him?

His statement, “other than the mosques of Mecca and Medina,” means: other than the mosque