Virtue and Rulings of Congregational Prayer
28 hadiths
Do you hear the Adhān?" He replied in the affirmative. Thereupon, he said: "Then respond to it
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: A blind man came to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and said: "O Messenger of Allah, I have no one to lead me to the mosque." He asked the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) to allow him to pray at home, which the Messenger of Allah did. When the man was leaving, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) called him back and said: "Do you hear the Adhān?" He replied in the affirmative. Thereupon, he said: "Then respond to it."
A man's prayer in congregation is twenty-something degrees higher than his prayer in his house and market
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "A man's prayer in congregation is twenty-something degrees higher than his prayer in his house and market. When one performs ablution and perfects it, then goes out to the mosque, nothing motivates him except prayer and seeking nothing but prayer. For every step he takes, he is raised one degree and one sin is erased for him until he enters the mosque. When he enters the mosque, he remains in prayer as long as prayer is what keeps him therein. The angels will keep invoking the blessings of Allah on you as long as you are in the place where you performed prayer, saying: 'O Allah, have mercy on him! O Allah, forgive him! O Allah, accept his repentance!' as long as you do not harm anyone therein and do not break your ablution."
Whoever ate garlic or onion should keep away from us—or he said: from our mosque—and stay at home
Jābir ibn ‘Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever ate garlic or onion should keep away from us—or he said: from our mosque—and stay at home." The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was brought a pot containing green legumes. Upon noticing it had an odor, he asked and was informed of the legumes therein. He said: "Bring it near" to one of his Companions who was with him. On seeing that he disliked eating it, he said: "Eat, for indeed, I privately converse with one you do not converse with." In a version by Muslim on the authority of Jābir ibn ‘Abdullah, he reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever ate from this herb, the garlic—and another time he said: Whoever ate onion, garlic, and leeks—should not approach our mosque, for the angels are offended by what offends the children of Adam."
Whoever goes to the mosque in the morning or the evening, Allah has prepared an abode for him in Paradise every time he goes in the morning or the evening
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever goes to the mosque in the morning or the evening, Allah has prepared an abode for him in Paradise every time he goes in the morning or the evening."
O people, you eat two plants that I only find offensive: onion and garlic
‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb (may Allah be pleased with him) is reported to have delivered a Friday sermon. In it he said: “O people, you eat two plants that I only find offensive: onion and garlic. I saw the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and if he detected their odor on a man in the mosque, he would order [the man] to be taken out to Al-Baqī‘. So anyone who [wants to] eat them, let them eliminate [their odor] by cooking.''
The congregational prayer surpasses the prayer of any one of you alone by twenty-five times. And the angels of the night and the angels of the day gather at the Fajr prayer
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: "The congregational prayer surpasses the prayer of any one of you alone by twenty-five times. And the angels of the night and the angels of the day gather at the Fajr prayer." Then Abu Hurayrah said: Recite, if you wish: {The recitation of dawn is ever witnessed [by the angels].} [Al-Isra: 78]
Whoever hears the prayer call and does not attend the congregational prayer, then his prayer is not valid (deficient), except if he has an excuse
Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever hears the prayer call and does not attend the congregational prayer, then his prayer is not valid (deficient), except if he has an excuse."
The best of the men's rows is the first, and the worst is the last, and the best of the women's rows is the last, and the worst is the first
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The best of the men's rows is the first, and the worst is the last, and the best of the women's rows is the last, and the worst is the first."
These two prayers are the most burdensome of all prayers for the hypocrites. If you knew what they contain, you would come to them, even if you had to crawl on your knees
’Ubayy ibn Ka‘b (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) led us in the Fajr prayer one day and said: "Is so-and-so present?" They replied: 'No.' He said: "Is so-and-so present?" They replied: 'No.' Thereupon, he said: "These two prayers are the most burdensome of all prayers for the hypocrites. If you knew what they contain, you would come to them, even if you had to crawl on your knees. The first row is like that of the angels, and if you knew the nature of its excellence, you would race to join it. A man's prayer with another man is purer than his prayer alone, and his prayer with two men is purer than his prayer with one man; the greater the number, the more pleasing it is to Allah Almighty."
أقيموا الصفوف وحاذوا بين المناكب
عن عبد الله بن عمر أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: "أقيموا الصفوف، وحاذوا بين المناكب، وسُدُّوا الخَلَلَ، ولِيْنُوا بأيدي إخوانكم، ولا تذروا فُرُجاتٍ للشيطان، ومن وصل صفًّا وصله الله، ومن قطع صفًّا قطعه الله".
If your wife asks your permission to go to the mosque, do not prevent her
‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If your wife asks your permission to go to the mosque, do not prevent her." Bilāl ibn ‘Abdullāh said: "By Allah! We will prevent them." Ibn ‘Umar turned to him and angrily insulted him in an unprecedented manner, saying: "I am telling you that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said so, and you say: 'By Allah! We will prevent them'!" Another version reads: "Do not prevent the female servants of Allah from (going to) the mosques of Allah."
Praying in congregation is twenty-seven degrees better than praying alone
‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Praying in congregation is twenty-seven degrees better than praying alone."
O Banu Salimah, stay in your neighborhood, your footsteps are recorded for you; stay in your neighborhood, your footsteps are recorded for you
Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The tribe of Banu Salimah wanted to move nearer to the mosque. On learning this, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to them: "I was told that you intend to move nearer to the mosque." They said: "That is true, O Messenger of Allah, we want to." He said: "O Banu Salimah, stay in your neighborhood, your footsteps (to the mosque) are recorded for you; stay in your neighborhood, your footsteps (to the mosque) are recorded for you." Another narration reads: "Every footstep (towards the mosque) merits one higher rank."
لقد رأيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يصلي في الخفين والنعلين
عن عبد الله بن مسعود أنه أتى أبا موسى الأشعري في منزله، فحضرت الصلاة، فقال أبو موسى: تقدم يا أبا عبد الرحمن، فإنك أقدم سنًّا وأعلم، قال: لا، بل تقدم أنت، فإنما أتيناك في منزلك ومسجدك، فأنت أحق. قال: فتقدم أبو موسى فخلع نعليه، فلما سلم قال: ما أردت إلى خلعهما؟ أبالوادي المقدس أنت؟ لقد رأيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يصلي في الخفين والنعلين.
من صلى لله أربعين يومًا في جماعة يدرك التكبيرة الأولى كتب له براءتان
عن أنس بن مالك قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: (من صلى لله أربعين يومًا في جماعة يدرك التكبيرة الأولى كتب له براءتان: براءة من النار، وبراءة من النفاق).
أيها الناس، إني إمامكم، فلا تسبقوني بالركوع ولا بالسجود
عن أنس قال: صلى بنا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ذات يوم، فلما قضى الصلاة أقبل علينا بوجهه، فقال: «أيها الناس، إني إمامكم، فلا تسبقوني بالركوع ولا بالسجود، ولا بالقيام ولا بالانصراف، فإني أراكم أمامي ومن خلفي» ثم قال: «والذي نفس محمد بيده، لو رأيتم ما رأيت لضحكتم قليلًا ولبكيتم كثيرًا» قالوا: وما رأيت يا رسول الله قال: «رأيت الجنة والنار».
أقيمت الصلاة وعدلت الصفوف قيامًا فخرج إلينا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم
عن أبي هريرة قال: أقيمت الصلاة وعدلت الصفوف قيامًا، فخرج إلينا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، فلما قام في مصلاه، ذكر أنه جنب، فقال لنا: «مكانكم» ثم رجع فاغتسل، ثم خرج إلينا ورأسه يقطر، فكبر فصلينا معه.
من صلى العشاء في جماعة فكأنما قام نصف الليل
عن عبد الرحمن بن أبي عمرة قال: دخل عثمان بن عفان المسجد بعد صلاة المغرب، فقعد وحده، فقعدتُ إليه فقال: يا ابن أخي، سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: «من صلى العشاء في جماعة فكأنما قام نصف الليل، ومن صلى الصبح في جماعة فكأنما صلى الليل كله».
إن الله عز وجل وملائكته يصلون على الصفوف الأول
عن البراء بن عازب قال: كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يتخلل الصف من ناحية إلى ناحية، يمسح صدورنا ومناكبنا ويقول: "لا تختلفوا فتختلف قلوبكم" وكان يقول: "إن الله عز وجل وملائكته يصلون على الصفوف الأول".
Complete the front row first, then the one following it. If there is any deficiency (in the rows), let it be in the last row
Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Complete the front row first, then the one following it. If there is any deficiency (in the rows), let it be in the last row."
When the Iqāmah (second call ) for prayer is pronounced, no prayer is to be offered but the obligatory one
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "When the Iqāmah (second call ) for prayer is pronounced, no prayer is to be offered but the obligatory one."
يا فلان، بأي الصلاتين اعتددت؟ أبصلاتك وحدك، أم بصلاتك معنا؟
عن عبد الله بن سَرْجِس قال: دخل رجل المسجد ورسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم في صلاة الغداة، فصلى ركعتين في جانب المسجد، ثم دخل مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، فلما سلم رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: «يا فلان، بأي الصلاتين اعتددت؟ أبصلاتك وحدك، أم بصلاتك معنا؟».
ليلني منكم أولو الأحلام والنهى ثم الذين يلونهم
عن أبي مسعود قال: كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يمسح مناكبنا في الصلاة، ويقول: «استووا، ولا تختلفوا، فتختلف قلوبكم، لِيَلِنِي منكم أولو الأحلام والنُّهى ثم الذين يلونهم، ثم الذين يلونهم» قال أبو مسعود: «فأنتم اليوم أشدُّ اختلافًا».
كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا سلم قام النساء حين يقضي تسليمه
عن أم سلمة رضي الله عنها قالت: كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا سلم قام النساء حين يقضي تسليمه، ومكث يسيرًا قبل أن يقوم. قال ابن شهاب: فأرى والله أعلم أن مكثه لكي ينفذ النساء قبل أن يدركهن من انصرف من القوم.
أعظم الناس أجرًا في الصلاة أبعدهم فأبعدهم ممشى
عن أبي موسى قال: قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: «أعظم الناس أجرًا في الصلاة أبعدهم فأبعدهم ممشى، والذي ينتظر الصلاة حتى يصليها مع الإمام أعظم أجرًا من الذي يصلي ثم ينام».
ألا رجل يتصدق على هذا فيصلي معه
عن أبي سعيد الخدري أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أبصر رجلًا يصلي وحده فقال: "أَلَا رجلٌ يتصدق على هذا فيصلي معه".
Go back to your families and stay with them. Teach them (religion) and command them (to adhere to it), perform so-and-so prayer at so-and-so time, and when prayer becomes due, let one of you call the Adhān and let the oldest among you lead you in prayer
Abu Sulaymān, Mālik ibn al-Huwayrith, (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: We came to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) when we were young and of about the same age. We stayed with him for twenty nights. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was merciful and compassionate; so, he realized our longing for our families. He asked us about our families whom we had left behind and we told him about them. Thereupon, he said: "Go back to your families and stay with them. Teach them (religion) and command them (to adhere to it), perform so-and-so prayer at so-and-so time, and when prayer becomes due, let one of you call the Adhān and let the oldest among you lead you in prayer." Another version by Al-Bukhāri has this addition: "Pray as you saw me pray.”
The reward of a man's prayer in congregation is twenty five times greater than that of the prayer he offers in his house or market
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The reward of a man's prayer in congregation is twenty five times greater than that of the prayer he offers in his house or market. That is because if he performs ablution thoroughly, then sets out for the mosque with the sole intention of praying, he will not take a step except he is raised one degree in reward, and one sin is removed from his account thereby. Then when he offers his prayer, the angels keep on supplicating Allah for him as long as he is in his place of prayer (saying): 'O Allah, Bestow Your blessings upon him; O Allah, forgive him; O Allah, have mercy upon him.' He is considered to be in prayer as long as he is waiting for prayer."