Excellence of Salah (prayer) in Congregation

“I asked abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), ’People say that performing Salah (prayer) in congregation is more virtuous than twenty-five Salah (prayer) performed alone. Is this true ? 5 The Imam replied, ‘What they say is right.’ I then asked, ‘Can two people be considered a congregation?’ He (a.s.), said, ‘Yes, but one should stand on the right side of the prayer leader.’”

“I heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.), say, ‘Al-Juhaniy came to the Holy Prophet and asked, “O Messenger of Allah, I live in open land (unpopulated) with my family, children, and slaves. I say Adhan and ‘Iqamah and lead them in Salah (prayer). Are we considered a congregation?” The Messenger of Allah replied, “Yes, you are a congregation.” He then asked, “O Messenger of Allah, sometimes the slaves follow the drops from the cloud, then my family, children and I remain home. I say Adhan and Iqamah and lead them in Salah (prayer). Are we considered a congregation?” The Messenger of Allah replied, “Yes, you are a congregation.” He then asked, “O Messenger of Allah, sometimes my children go out after the cattle, only then my family and I remain home. I then say Adhan and Iqamah and lead them in Salah (prayer). Am I a congregation?” The Messenger of Allah replied, “Yes, you are a congregation.” He then asked, “O Messenger of Allah, the female (his wife) goes for her things to do and I then remain by myself. I then say Adhan and Iqamah and perform Salah (prayer). Am I a congregation?” The Messenger of Allah replied, “Yes, the believer, by himself is a congregation.’””

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The Messenger of Allah has said, “If one performs the five Salah (prayer) in congregation you should think good about him.’””

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Should a man among you who may sell his slave girl to someone, not feel embarrassed, if she says that her previous owner would not attend Salah (prayer) in congregation?”’

“I once was sitting in the presence of abu Ja‘far (a.s.), when a man came to him and said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, I am a man in the neighborhood of the Masjid of my people. If I do not perform Salah (prayer) with them, they turn against me and say that I am so and so. He (the Imam) said, ‘When you say this, notice that ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, “Whoever hears the call and does not respond without good reason, his Salah (prayer) is nothing of value.’” The man then left and he (the Imam) said to him, ‘You must not ignore performing Salah (prayer) with them and behind every Imam.’ When he left I said to him (the Imam), ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, your words to this man seem very big to me when he asked your fatwa especially if he is not of the believing people. He (the Imam) laughed, then said, ’From now on I want to see you nowhere else but here, O Zurarah. What other greater proof you need than the fact that he does not perform Salah (prayer) behind him?’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘Have you not seen (found, understood) me saying, “Perform Salah (prayer) in your Masjid. Perform Salah (prayer) behind your ’A’immah (plural of Imam).’”

“We once asked him (the Imam), ‘Is Salah (prayer) in congregation obligatory?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Salah (prayer) is obligatory but congregating for it in general is not obligatory; however, it is of the Sunnah. Whoever omits it in disregard and in disregard of the group of believers without good reason, his Salah (prayer) is nothing of value.’”

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has sad, ‘Those of you who are just behind the Imam are people of forbearance and wisdom, so that if Imam forgets or becomes tired they can help. The excellent row is the first row and excellent in the first row is the place nearest to the Imam. The height of the excellence of Salah (prayer) in congregation over Salah (prayer) of a man alone is twenty-five degrees in paradise.’”

The excellence of performing Salah (prayer) in the center of the rows over that in the left is like the excellence of performing Salah (prayer) in congregation over performing Salah (prayer) alone individually.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is counted in your favor if you join them even if you do not follow them, just like it is counted in your favor when you are with those whom you follow.’” (Ahadith 5-9 are best explained in the form of fatwa.)