The Congregational Prayer
Provided hereunder is a selection of ahadith from the Ma’ariful Hadith by Mawlana Manzoor No’mani as translated by Muhammad Asif Kidwai under the title Meaning and Message of the Traditions
(1) It is related by Abu Darda that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: If there are three persons in a habitation and they do not offer Salah (Prayer) in congregation then Satan will, surely, obtain control over them. You should, therefore, make it obligatory for yourselves to observe congregation. The wolf devours only the sheep that strays away from the flock.” – Musnad Ahmad, Abu Da’ud and Nasai
(2) It is related by Abdullah ibn ‘Umar that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: “To offer Salah (Prayer) in congregation is twenty-seven times more meritorious than to offer it alone.” – Bukhari and Muslim
(3) It is related by Anas that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: “Whoever offers every Salah (Prayer) for forty days like this that even the first Takbir (i.e. saying Allahu-Akbar) is not missed by him, freedom from two things is decreed for him: the Fire of Hell and Hypocrisy.” – Tirmidhi
(4) It is related by Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: “Whoever performed ablution and performed it well, and, then went to the mosque (with the intention of offering Salah congregationally), but on reaching there found that people had finished Praying, God would bestow upon him the same reward as upon those who prayed in congregation and there would be no reduction in their reward as well.” – Abu Da’ud and Nasai
(5) Abdullah ibn ‘Umar narrates that one night when it was very cold and a strong breeze was blowing he gave Adhan, and then, called out, “Oh people! Pray in your houses.” Proceeding, Abdullah ibn ‘Umar relates that it was the custom of the Prophet that when it was very cold in the night and rain was falling he ordered the Muezzin to announce to the people to offer Prayers at home. – Bukhari and Muslim
(6) It is related by Abdullah ibn ‘Umar that the Prophet of Allah, peace be upon him, said: “When the meal of the night is laid for anyone of you and the worshippers stand up for the Prayer (in the mosque), he should, first, eat his meal and refrain from hurrying till it is over.” – Bukhari and Muslim
(7) It is related by Abdullah ibn Arqam, who narrates that he heard the Prophet, peace be upon him, say: “When the congregation stands for Prayer and anyone of you has the need to answer the call of nature, he should, first, get done with it.” – Tirmidhi, Mu’watta’, Abu Da’ud and Nasai
(8) It is related by Anas that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: “Oh people! Keep the rows straight and orderly in Prayer, for keeping the rows straight and in order is a part of Praying properly.” – Bukhari and Muslim
