The Obligation to Pray In Congregation

The Obligation to Pray In Congregation

Nowdays, citizen oftentimes has so many bustle that make them hard to find free times to pray in congregation in masjid. Now, If we watch, although masjid becomes more beautiful with it’s amazing interior design or with any fabulous decoration, masjid becomes more quiet. It only becomes

more crowded when Friday or when pray ied. Whereas in common days, masjid filled with only several congregation. In this paper, writer want to explain how important to pray in congregation in masjid, especially for male.

                Firstly, Allah SWT promise with a great reward for those who pray congregated in masjid. We can see this engagement in hadith Rasulullah :

مَنْ صَلَّى الْعِشَاءَ فِي جَمَاعَةٍ كَانَ كَقِيَامِ نِصْفِ لَيْلَةٍ وَمَنْ صَلَّى الْعِشَاءَ وَالْفَجْرَ فِي جَمَاعَةٍ كَانَ كَقِيَامِ لَيْلَةٍ

"Whoever is praying ‘isha in congregation, with a reward like the half night prayer. Whoever is praying ' Isha ' and Fajr in congregation, with a reward such as a overnight prayer. "       

One of the virtues of prayer in Congregation is also found in the Hadith narrated by abu hurayrah, i.e.

صَلاةُ الرَّجُلِ في جَمَاعةٍ تُضَعَّفُ عَلَى صَلاتِهِ فِي بَيْتهِ وفي سُوقِهِ خَمْسًا وَعِشْرِينَ ضِعْفًا

“Surely someone in the Congregation prayer be multiplied 25 times larger than he is praying at his home or in its market”

                Both this Hadith tells us about the magnitude of the prayer in congregation rather than reward from munfarid prayer. How to lose those who stopped praying in congregation, he would lose his chance to get the reward worth the full overnight prayer, whereas, modern society is also increasingly difficult to perform night prayers.

                The Prophet Muhammad SAW in a one of his hadith that narrated by Abu Hurayrah,even order the blind to go to the mosque.

                أَتَى النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ رَجُلٌ أَعْمَى فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ لِي قَائِدٌ يَقُودُنِي إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ فَسَأَلَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنْ يُرَخِّصَ لَهُ فَيُصَلِّيَ فِي بَيْتِهِ فَرَخَّصَ لَهُ فَلَمَّا وَلَّى دَعَاهُ فَقَالَ هَلْ تَسْمَعُ النِّدَاءَ بِالصَّلَاةِ قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَأَجِبْ

“A blind man has ever met the Prophet alaihi wasallam and said, "O Messenger of Allah, I do not have someone who will leads me to the masjid." Then she asked for waivers to the Messenger of Allaah ' alaihi wasallam to pray at home, then the Prophet granted waivers on him. When the man came back, he again asked, "Do you hear the call of prayer (azan)?" the man replied, "Yes, I do." He said, "Fill the call (prayer worshipers attend)."

Even a blind man, the Messenger of Allah ordered him to pray in Congregation in the masjid, especially for people who are healthy and do not have any physical disabilities. This suggests to us the Hadith about the obligation of prayer in Congregation in the masjid.

Allah SWT also clearly hinting us to pray in Congregation in the masjid. It was contained in his word in the letter An-Nisa verse 102 which says:

وَإِذَا كُنتَ فِيهِمْ فَأَقَمْتَ لَهُمُ الصَّلاَةَ فَلْتَقُمْ طَآئِفَةُُ مِّنْهُم مَّعَكَ وَلِيَأْخُذُوا أَسْلِحَتَهُمْ فَإِذَا سَجَدُوا فَلْيَكُونُوا مِن وَرَآئِكُمْ وَلْتَأْتِ طَآئِفَةٌ أُخْرَى لَمْ يُصَلُّوا فَلْيُصَلُّوا مَعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُوا حِذْرَهُمْ وَأَسْلِحَتَهُمْ وَدَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَوْ تَغْفُلُونَ عَنْ أَسْلِحَتِكُمْ وَأَمْتِعَتِكُمْ فَيَمِيلُونَ عَلَيْكُم مَّيْلَةً وَاحِدَةً وَلاَ جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِن كَانَ بِكُمْ أَذًى مِّن مَّطَرٍ أَوْ كُنتُم مَّرْضَى أَن تَضَعُوا أَسْلِحَتَكُمْ وَخُذُوا حِذْرَكُمْ إِنَّ اللهَ أَعَدَّ لِلْكَافِرِينَ عَذَابًا مُّهِينًا

“And when you are among them and lead them in prayer, let a group of them stand [in prayer] with you and let them carry their arms. And when they have prostrated, let them be [in position] behind you and have the other group come forward which has not [yet] prayed and let them pray with you, taking precaution and carrying their arms. Those who disbelieve wish that you would neglect your weapons and your baggage so they could come down upon you in one [single] attack. But there is no blame upon you, if you are troubled by rain or are ill, for putting down your arms, but take precaution. Indeed, Allah has prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment.”

Ibn Mundhir provide interpretation of the word of God, that is :

في أمر الله بإقامة الجماعة في حال الخوف : دليل على أن ذلك في حال الأمن أوجب

“At God's command to still uphold the prayer in congregation when scared (of war) is the proposition that the prayer in Congregation is obligatory when the conditions are more secure”

The above propositions have been very clearly describes how obligatory prayer in Congregation in all conditions, both being secure, was busy, being a dangerous condition or other conditions. So there is no reason for anyone for any reason, either commercial or Office work affair, leaving the prayer in congregation.

Then, what the reason we refuse the command to pray in Congregation? Don't we want a great reward for our effort in the hereafter? We are also not a worst condition like people who have physical disabilities. We are also not bad condition like when warfare. Do not let our bustle of the world hinder us to fulfill our obligation to Him. He was the one who always gave us favors and always guide us to the right way. Don't we shamed with Him?