Question

Assalamalaykum dear scholars,

I hope you are well.

Would like to know if it is obligatory for men to pray at mosque every prayers?
When missing prayers at mosque are we committing a sin?

Jazzak Allahu khayran

Jawad

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Answer

In relation to your question, there are two issues which require discussion. The first is the ruling of performing salat in congregation and the other is whether it is necessary to perform the congregational salat in the masjid, for the duty to be fulfilled.

The jurists have differed in regards to the ruling of performing salat in congregation. The first position is that it is a mandatory wajib. This seems to be the position of majority of the Hanafi jurists including Imam Kasani, Haskafi and others.[1] However, the second position is that it is a highly emphasised sunnah, which ranks very close to wajib. This position has been adopted by the likes of Imam Karkhi, Imam Nasafi and Imam Shurunbulali[2].

The main difference between the two positions is that in the first position, one would be sinful for missing salat in congregation, even if this happened once. As for the second position, one would not be sinful for missing salat in congregation just once; but they will be sinful if this becomes a habit.[3]

The first position seems to be the majority position; however, the second is also a valid position and accommodates circumstances where it becomes difficult to perform salat in congregation such as when at work etc.

The jurists have also differed in another issue; whether or not the congregational salat must be performed in the masjid in order for the duty of praying in congregation to be fulfilled. The majority position seems to be that as long as a salat is performed in congregation; be it at home with one’s family, the duty will be fulfilled. This position has been mentioned by Imam Ibn ʿAbidin, Imam ʿAyni quoting from Qurtubi and Imam Tahtawi.[4] However, the likes of Imam Shams al-A’immah Hulwani considered praying salat in one’s home, with one’s family, as an innovation and disliked this practice.

One must bear in mind that even though, based on the above, the duty of performing salat in congregation will be fulfilled by performing ṣalāt at home with one’s family; the virtues and importance of performing salat in congregation in the Masjid will be lost. As there is a lot of importance given to performing salat in congregation and attending the masjid, the default for any person should be that they attend the masjid for their salat. However, if due to some reason one was not able to go, then they should get a few individuals together [or even their spouse] and perform salat in congregation wherever they are. Finally, if it is not possible at all to perform salat in congregation then one may perform the salat by themselves, however, this should not become a habit. Rather, all attempts should be made to perform salats in the masjid.

[1]  بدائع الصنائع في ترتيب الشرائع (1/ 155)  (أَمَّا) الْأَوَّلُ: فَقَدْ قَالَ عَامَّةُ مَشَايِخِنَا: إنَّهَا وَاجِبَةٌ، وَذَكَرَ الْكَرْخِيُّ أَنَّهَا سُنَّةٌ، (وَاحْتَجَّ) بِمَا رُوِيَ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ – صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ – أَنَّهُ قَالَ: «صَلَاةُ الْجَمَاعَةِ تَفْضُلُ عَلَى صَلَاةِ الْفَرْدِ بِسَبْعٍ وَعِشْرِينَ دَرَجَةً، وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ بِخَمْسٍ وَعِشْرِينَ دَرَجَةً» ، جَعَلَ الْجَمَاعَةَ لِإِحْرَازِ الْفَضِيلَةِ وَذَا آيَةُ السُّنَنِ.

(وَجْهُ) قَوْلِ الْعَامَّةِ: الْكِتَابُ وَالسُّنَّةُ وَتَوَارُثُ الْأُمَّةِ،

الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) (1/ 552) (والجماعة سنة مؤكدة للرجال) … (وقيل واجبة وعليه العامة) أي عامة مشايخنا وبه جزم في التحفة وغيرها. قال في البحر: وهو الراجح عند أهل المذهب

الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) (1/ 457)

بقي هنا شيء، وهو أن صلاة الجماعة واجبة على الراجح في المذهب أو سنة مؤكدة في حكم الواجب كما في البحر وصرحوا بفسق تاركها وتعزيره، وأنه يأثم،

[2]  تبيين الحقائق شرح كنز الدقائق وحاشية الشلبي (1/ 132)  قَالَ – رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ – (الْجَمَاعَةُ سُنَّةٌ مُؤَكَّدَةٌ) أَيْ قَوِيَّةٌ تُشْبِهُ الْوَاجِبَ فِي الْقُوَّةِ حَتَّى اُسْتُدِلَّ بِمُلَازَمَتِهَا عَلَى وُجُودِ الْإِيمَانِ

حاشية الطحطاوي على مراقي الفلاح شرح نور الإيضاح (ص: 286) “والصلاة بالجماعة سنة” في الأصح مؤكدة شبيهة بالواجب في القوة “للرجال”

[3]  الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) (1/ 554)  ثمرته تظهر في الإثم بتركها مرة (قوله بتركها مرة) أي بلا عذر، وهذا عند العراقيين، وعند الخراسانيين إنما يأثم إذا اعتاده كما في القنية وقد مر

[4]  الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) (1/ 554) في مسجد أو غيره.

(قوله في مسجد أو غيره) قال في القنية: واختلف العلماء في إقامتها في البيت والأصح أنها كإقامتها في المسجد إلا في الأفضلية. اه

حاشية الطحطاوي على مراقي الفلاح شرح نور الإيضاح (ص: 287) ويحصل فضل الجماعة بواحد ولو صبيا يعقل أو امرأة ولو في البيت مع الإمام

“ولو صبيا” يفهم منه أن فضيلة الجماعة تحصل بالمتنفل المقتدي قوله: “أو امرأة” حتى لو صلى في بيته بزوجته أو جاريته أو ولده فقد أتى بفضيلة الجماعة اهـ كذا في الشرح ولكن فضيلة المسجد أتم

عمدة القاري شرح صحيح البخاري (4/ 260) ثمَّ الْعلمَاء اخْتلفُوا: هَل هَذَا الْفضل لأجل الْجَمَاعَة فَقَط حَيْثُ كَانَت؟ أَو أَن ذَلِك إِنَّمَا يكون ذَلِك فِي الْجَمَاعَة الَّتِي تكون فِي الْمَسْجِد لما يلْزم ذَلِك من أَفعَال تخْتَص بالمساجد؟ قَالَ الْقُرْطُبِيّ: وَالظَّاهِر الأول، لِأَن الْجَمَاعَة هُوَ الْوَصْف الَّذِي علق عَلَيْهِ الحكم

Answered by:
Ifta Research Fellow

Checked & Approved by:
Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
Mufti Zubair Patel