Second Chapter of the Third Division: The Congregational Prayer

First Section: Determining the Ruling of the Congregational Prayer

This second chapter of the third division, together with its underlying principles, is arranged in seven sections:

1. Determining the ruling of the congregational prayer.
2. Identifying the conditions for leadership (imāmah), who has the greatest right to lead, and the rulings specific to the imam.
3. Clarifying the position of the follower (ma’mūm) in relation to the imam and the rulings specific to the congregation.
4. Explaining the matters in which the follower must follow the imam and those in which he does not.
5. Describing the manner of such following.
6. Outlining what the imam carries on behalf of the followers.
7. Discussing the matters that, should they invalidate the imam’s prayer, would likewise invalidate the prayer of the followers.

First Section: Determining the Ruling of the Congregational Prayer

This section comprises two issues:

1. Is attendance at the congregational prayer obligatory upon one who hears the call to prayer, or is it not obligatory?
2. If a man enters the mosque having already performed the prayer, must he repeat that same prayer with the congregation, or is he excused?

With respect to the first issue, the scholars have differed. The majority hold that it is Sunnah, or at most a communal obligation (farḍ kifāyah). The Ẓāhirīs, however, maintain that the congregational prayer is an individual obligation upon every legally responsible Muslim.

The cause of their disagreement is the seeming conflict among the transmitted proofs. The outward sense of the Prophet’s statement—peace and blessings be upon him—“The congregational prayer surpasses the prayer of one who prays alone by twenty-five degrees, or by twenty-seven degrees,” indicates that praying in congregation is a recommended act, an additional perfection over the obligatory prayer. In other words, he—peace and blessings be upon him—declared that the congregational prayer is more complete than solitary prayer, and completeness is something that comes on top of mere fulfillment.

Likewise, the famous ḥadīth of the blind man who sought permission to absent himself from the congregational prayer because he had no guide: the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—first granted him a concession, then said, “Do you hear the call?” He answered, “Yes,” whereupon the Prophet replied, “I find no concession for you.” This ḥadīth stands as an explicit proof of the obligation of congregational prayer in the absence of a valid excuse. Muslim recorded it.