in Congregation ( ﻼة ا) The certificates of ISO Achieved by the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments

First Publication 1436 AH / 2015 AD

All rights of publication reserved

Website of the Authority: www.awqaf.gov.ae

The Official Fatwa Centre in the country, in the languages of , English and Urdu

Toll free number for Fatwa and women issues is 8002422 The Fatwa SMS service’s number is 2535

Vision: The GAIAE is a leading entity promoting social awareness and progress according to the tolerant teachings of that recognise the current realities and understand the future challenges.

Mission: The GAIAE works on enhancing religious awareness by building and maintaining Masjids and (The Holy Qur’an) memorization centres, managing Haj and affairs and investing in Waqf (endowment) for the good of society. Preface

All the praise belongs to Almighty . Blessings and peace be upon the Prophet (SAW), the master of the messengers and the prophets, who said: “When Allah wishes good for someone, He bestows upon him the understanding of Deen”. And blessings be upon all the family members of the Prophet, his Companions and those who follow him till the .

Acquiring deep knowledge of Islam is one of the best and useful deeds; by the very knowledge of Islam people worship Allah, the rulings and injunctions are understood and the life becomes straight.

Paying full attention to making the people aware 4

of the rulings of worships, the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments issued series of brief and simplified booklets relating to the rulings of purification, prayer and fasting, and these booklets have been prepared in a simple, plain and in an easy way so that a Muslim himself and his family may be good individuals and this may result in making a better society.

We request Almighty Allah, He may make us able to worship Him and that He may accept our good deeds. Indeed, He is the only one who listens to our and He is near to us. Blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, upon his family members and his all companions.

General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments Prayer in Congregation 5

Prayer in Congregation

1. The Ruling:

Prayer in congregation is sometimes wajib such as congregation in Jumu’ah prayer, and it is Mu’akkadah in all the five obligatory prayers: Fajr, Dhur, ‘Asr, Maghrib and ‘Isha prayers.

Prayer in congregation is Sunnah in both the two Eids, solar eclipse prayer, prayer for seeking rain and in Taraweeh prayer…and it is allowed in Nawafil (voluntary) prayers with a short gathering such as in al-layl.

Prayer in congregation is disliked in Nawafil prayers with a huge gathering such as in Dhuha prayer, and prayer in congregation is lawful for 6

women if there is full security of peace and modesty. The congregation is made with two or more than two persons.

2. Virtues of Prayer in Congregation: Every Muslim is required to be desirous for performing the prayers in congregation, due to many narrations which prove its grand rewards and much benefit. Some of these are:

• Multiplication in reward: So, Ibn ‘Umar (RA) reported: The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “Salat (prayer) in congregation is twenty-seven times more meritorious than a Salat performed individually.” [Muwatta: 322].

• Rank is raised and sins are remitted: Abu Hurairah (RA) reported: The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “A man’s Salat in congregation is twenty-five times more Prayer in Congregation 7

rewarding than his Salat at home or in his shop, and that is because when he performs his Wudhu’ properly and proceeds towards the with the purpose of performing Salat (in congregation), he does not take a step without being raised a degree (in rank) for it and having a sin remitted for it, till he enters the mosque. When he is performing Salat, the continue to invoke Blessings of Allah on him as long as he is in his place of worship. (They say:) ‘O Allah! Have mercy on him! O Allah! Forgive him.’ He is deemed to be engaged in Salat as long as he waits for it.” [Sahih Bukhari: 647].

And, Abdullah bin Mas’ud (RA) reported: He who likes to meet Allah tomorrow as a Muslim, he should persevere in observing these prayers, when a call is announced for them, for Allah has 8

laid down for your Prophet the paths of right guidance, and these (prayers) are among the paths of right guidance. If you were to pray in your houses as this man stays away (from the mosque) and prays in his house, you would abandon the practice of your Prophet, and if you - were to abandon the practice of your Prophet, you would go astray. There is no man who purifies himself and does it well, and comes to one of these and prays there, but for every step that he takes, Allah raises him in status one degree thereby, and takes away one of his sins.” [Sahih Muslim: 654].

• Allah becomes happy with the person who performs prayer in Masjid: It is narrated from Abu Hurairah (RA) that: The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: “A Muslim does not regularly attend the mosques to perform prayer and Prayer in Congregation 9

remember Allah, but Allah feels happy with him just as the family of one who is absent feels happy when he comes /ﺗﺒﺸﺶ) back to them.” [Ibn Majah: 800]. Here to feel happy) means to become delighted and pleased.

• Sins are forgiven: Uthman bin Affan (RA) is reported to have said: I heard the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) saying: “Whoever does wudhu and does it well (properly) then he walks for an obligatory salat, then he performs the salat with , his sins will be forgiven. [Sahih Ibn Khuzaima: 1489].

• The person who preserves prayers in congregation lives in goodness and dies upon goodness: So, in a Qudsi Ibn ‘Abbas (RA) narrated that Allah asked His Messenger (SAW): “What is it that the most exalted group busy themselves 10

with?’ I said: My Lord! I do not know.’ So He placed His Hand between my shoulders, until I sensed its coolness between my breast, so I knew what was in between the east and the west. He said: ‘O Muhammad!’ I said: ‘Here I am O my Lord! And I am at Your service.’ He said: ‘What is it that the most exalted group busy themselves with?’ I said: ‘In the acts that raise ranks and the acts that atone (kaffarah), and in recording the footsteps to the congregation, Isbagh al- in difficulties, and awaiting the Salat after the Salat. And whoever preserves them, he shall live in goodness and die upon goodness, and his sins shall be like that on the day upon which his mother born him.” [Sunan Tirmidhi: 3234]. Prayer in Congregation 11

• Absolution from the Fire: Anas bin Malik (RA) narrated that: Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said: “Whoever performs Salat for Allah for forty days in congregation, catching the first , two absolutions are written for him: absolution from the Fire, and absolution from hypocrisy.” [Sunan Tirmidhi: 241]. 12

3. Salat (Prayer) Congregation in Masjid : It is Sunnah to perform obligatory Salats (prayers) with congregation in masjids; because there is much virtue in preserving it. The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “A man’s Salat in congregation is twenty-five times more rewarding than his Salat at home or in his shop, and that is because when he performs his Wudhu’ properly and proceeds towards the mosque with the purpose of performing Salat (in congregation), he does not take a step without being raised a degree (in rank) for it and having a sin remitted for it, till he enters the mosque. When he is performing Salat, the angels continue to invoke Blessings of Allah on him as long as he is in his place of worship. (They say:) ‘O Allah! Have mercy on him! O Allah! Forgive him.’ He is deemed to be engaged in Salat as long as he waits for it.” [Sahih Bukhari: 647].

But it is also allowed to perform these prayers with congregation in the house or at any place, as Prayer in Congregation 13

this grace is among the things which our Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was given, not the earlier messengers: that the land has been made pure (and purifying) and has been made the place of salat, as it has been mentioned in the Hadith (whose authenticity is) agreed upon by Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.

4. The Act of Imamat (Leading The Prayers) and its provisions : • The deserving person for Imamat: Imam Muslim has narrated that Abu Mas’ud al- Ansari (RA) reported Allah’s Messenger (SAW) as saying: “The one who is most versed in Allah’s Book should act as Imam 14

for the people, but If they are equally versed in reciting it, then the one who has most knowledge regarding Sunnah, if they are equal regarding the Sunnah, then the earliest one to emigrate; it they emigrated at the same time, then the earliest one to embrace Islam….” [Sahih Muslim: 673].

• Qualification for validity of Imamat and provisions for perfection of Imamat: Imam must be Muslim, male, sane (not mad/ mentally ill), adult (i.e., the one who has reached puberty) and he must be well-versed in the knowledge without which Salat cannot be valid, such as knowledge of recitation of al-Fatihah and he should be able to adopt moderation in acts and be able to fulfil the pillars of Salat. If an Imam is more knowledgeable, more pious, generous enough and more punctual on maintaining cleanliness then he is more suitable and fit person for the Imamat post. Prayer in Congregation 15

• It is disliked if a person, who has done or has done Mash (wipe off) on his footwear (khuf) or on his splint (jabirah), leads prayer to those who have done wudhu, likewise, it is also disliked if a person who is suffering from uroclepsia (urinary incontinence) leads prayer to the healthy people.

5. The act of following the imam and its provisions: means One’s following the :(ﺍﻗﺘﺪﺍﺀ) Iqtida Imam in his prayer, and Iqtida is valid with some provisions, including: - Intention: The follower needs to intend to follow his Imam in the same Salat, same method and the same time of the Salat. - Equality: Iqtida is valid when the Salat of Imam and his followers is the same, the method is the same in Ada or Qadha Slaats (Ada: the prayer which is offered at its prescribed time and Qadha is 16

the prayer which could not be performed at its time and is performed at later stage): i.e. the Imam and his followers should be in the same prayer, so the Dhuhr prayer is not valid behind the Imam who is leading . Likewise, Ada prayer is not valid behind the Imam who is leading Qadha prayer or vice versa.

- Following the Imam in his words and acts: Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said: “The Imam is to be followed and if he prays standing then pray standing, and bow when he bows, and raise your heads when he raises his head; prostrate when he prostrates; and if he says “Sami’a l-lahu liman hamidah”, you should say, “Rabbana wa lakal-.”. [Sahih Bukhari: 732].

So, the follower has to follow his Imam, and he has to follow his Imam in his words and his actions. The prayer of the follower will be invalid if he does Prayer in Congregation 17

Takbeer of Ihram or does Salaam (ends prayer) before his Imam’s.

In recitation, it is necessary for the follower to listen to the recitation of Imam, if the recitation is loudly, because Almighty Allah says: ﴿© ª » ¬ ® ¯ ° ± ﴾ [ﺍﻷﻋﺮﺍﻑ: ٢٠٤]. [So, when the Qur’an is recited, listen to it, and be silent that you may receive mercy] [Al-‘Araf: 204].

The follower will recite silently for himself when Imam recites silently, and the follower will say ‘Aameen’ (Amen) after the Imam says: Surahِ ِ al-Fatihah: 7], and when Imam] ِ :the follower should say ,« َﺳﻤ َﻊ ُﺍﷲ ﻟ َﻤ ْﻦ َﺣﻤ َﺪُﻩ» :says َ.«ﺭ ﱠﺑ َﻨﺎ َﻭ َﻟ َﻚ ْﺍﻟ َﺤ ْﻤُﺪ»

And he should do invocations of Salat and should pronounce narrated (Ad’yiah Mathurah) or other Duas (prayers) whatever he likes individually. 18

It is necessary for the follower that he should not do Takbeer or any act of the prayer before Imam does, rather the follower should do after the Imam does.

It is allowed for the follower to follow the Imam by the voice of the loudspeaker when there is difficulty, due to some reasons, in hearing the Takbeer, Tasmee’ (samiallahu liman hamidah) and Salaam.

6. Congregation in illness and journey : - A healthy person’s performing Salat behind a non-healthy: it is not allowed for a person, who is unable to perform a necessary part (pillar) of Salat such as ’, , Qiyam, to lead the prayer for the healthy people.

- The things which are allowed in the prayer in journey: Qasr (shortening the Salats) or Jama’ (combining Salats) with their respective provisions, are also allowed in the Salat of a traveler behind a traveler. Prayer in Congregation 19

- If a traveler performs Salat behind a resident (Muqeem) then the traveler has to complete the Salat and he cannot shorten (Qasr) in Salat.

- If some residents (Muqeems) perform Salat behind a traveler, it is better for the traveler to remind his followers before the Salat that he will do Qasr ( shorten the Salat) and then the traveler Imam will remind his followers at the end of his Salat too, saying: “Please complete your Salat, I am a traveler”. The Imam will announce this so that some followers may not get confused and they may not think that the four Rak’at prayer is two rak’ats.

7. Straightening the rows of prayer : When the Salat is held Imam should stand in middle position in front of the rows of the followers; because the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “Let the Imam stand in the middle (so that those praying behind him should be standing both on 20

his right and his left) and close the gaps.” [Sunan Abu Dawood: 681].

It is among the Sunnah for the women to perform Salat in the rows behind the men (women should take the last rows) so women will not perform Salat in rows of men. If the congregation is of only two men then the follower should stand at the right hand of the Imam, not behind the Imam.

Imam will not stand at the higher place and his followers at the low place or vice versa. An individual person will not stand alone behind a row except woman, and prohibition of standing alone in a row for a man becomes more affirmed if space is available in the row (already filled up).

Straightening the row is one of the completeness of Salat, so if a person performs Salat sitting on a chair should maintain the straightness of the row, hence, he should not be ahead or behind the row. Prayer in Congregation 21

8. Method of the salat (prayer) of imam: Aer the Iqamat of the Salat the Imam should remind the followers to straighten the rows, then he should pronounce Takbeer of Ihram and other Takbeers loudly in a way that the followers may hear his Takbeer so that they may say Takbeer after him. Likewise, Imam should say Tasmee’ (Samiallahu liman hamidah) and Salaam at the end of Salat loudly.

It is recommended for the Imam not to prolong the recitation and other acts of the Salat; so that the followers may not feel hardship.

Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated: Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said: “If anyone of you leads people in the prayer, he should shorten it for amongst them are the weak, the sick and the old; and if anyone among your prays alone then he may prolong (the prayer) as much as he wishes.” [Sahih Bukhari: 703].

It is better for the Imam to prolong the first rak’at a little more than the second rak’at. 22

When Imam becomes free from the last he should invoke blessings on the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), and it is recommended for him to say Salaam loudly.

9. Correcting / Reminding The Mistakes of Imam :

It is reminding the Imam when he gets confused during recitation of the Holy Qur’an. In this case the followers should remind and correct the Imam.

It is allowed when Imam waits for a person who can remind and correct him, or when the Imam distorts the meaning (in recitation of the Holy Qur’an) for example, he changes the verse of mercy with the verse of torment.

As far as Tasbeeh is concerned so it means alarming and reminding the Imam when he forgets or does mistake and misplaces an act, so the follower would remind the Imam saying: ‘Subhan Allah’. Prayer in Congregation 23

10. Obtaining the rak’at in congregation :

- How congregation is obtained?: The virtue of prayer in congregation cannot be gained but by obtaining one complete rak’at, i.e. by obtaining the ruku’ and two sujud () of the rak’at, in a way that the follower should find the ruku’ (in its real meaning) before the Imam stands up.

So, Abu Hurairah (RA) reported the Messenger of Allah (SAW) as saying: “If anyone obtains a rak’at in the prayer (along with the Imam), he has obtained the whole prayer.” [Sahih Bukhari: 580].

- Ruling of the masbuq: Masbuq is the person who finds with Imam one or more than one rak’at. The ruling of a Masbuq is that he should do Takbeer (of Ihram) first and should follow the Imam in the rest acts. When Imam says Salaam the masbuq should fulfill what he has left in terms of acts and words (recitation etc.); so masbuq would fulfill the loud (part which has been missed) loudly, and would fulfill the silent (part which has been missed) silently, 24

and should recite Surah al-Fatihah with a Surah or without Surah depending on what he has missed.

As far as order of the acts is concerned so it depends on what has been missed; for example, if someone obtained one rak’at from the prayer of three or four rak’at, in this case the masbuq will perform one rak’at and will sit for Tahiyyah al-Wusta, then he will stand up and will complete the rest acts.

- Starting an obligatory or additional prayer, after the congregational prayer has been held, is forbidden: If someone is performing a Salat, meanwhile the congregational prayer is held then he should brief his Salat and should join the Imam, and if he fears that he would miss a rak’at then in this case he should leave his Salat necessarily and must join the Imam.

Abu Huraira (RA) reported the Messenger of Allah (SAW) as saying: “When the prayer commences, there is no prayer but the obligatory one.” [Sahih Muslim: 710]. Prayer in Congregation 25

- Speeding up is allowed to obtain the prayer in congregation, without rushing which is against tranquility : The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “When the is called for prayer, do not come to it running, but come with calmness. Pray what you catch and complete what you miss. You are in prayer as long as your aim is the prayer.” [Muwatta Imam Malik: 4].

11. Repeating the congregation and its number :

– If someone has performed a Salat alone then he found (the same Salat) in congregation, in this case it is recommended for him to repeat the Salat being as follower not as Imam, so that he may gain the virtue of congregation; because in this case he is a Mutanaffil (a person who is performing nafl prayer), except in the congregation of and after .

– If someone obtained one or more than one rak’at in a prayer with congregation, he will not 26

repeat the prayer in congregation (to obtain the complete prayer in congregation). And if someone found less than one rak’at such as he found only Tashahhud or Sujud then he should repeat the Salat in congregation, as he is now under the ruling of an individual (who has performed prayer alone), because he did not obtain one complete rak’at.

– It is disliked (makruh) to hold a prayer in congregations two or more than two times in a masjid which has a paid-Imam, as far as the masjids of the markets and streets are concerned so it is allowed, not disliked.

12. Excuses for leaving the congregational prayer : It is allowed not to attend the congregation due to the following excuses: - Heavy rain, mud or storm at night. - Illness or sick-nursing. - Fear of one’s self or wealth. Prayer in Congregation 27

13. Etiquettes after the congregational prayer :

- Doing (invocations) is recommended after the congregational prayer, such as reciting some verses and narrated duas (pryaers).

- Leaving the masjid after the congregational prayer: It is recommended to make the women leave the masjid first then the men.

Um Salama (RA) narrated: “Whenever Allah’s Messenger (SAW) completed the prayer with salam, the women used to get up immediately and Allah’s Messenger (SAW) would remain at his place for a while before getting up”. (The sub-narrator (Az- Zuhri) said, “We think, and Allah knows better, that he did so, so that the women might leave before men could get mixed with them). [Sahih Bukhari: 870]. 28

General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments

● Values - Sincerity and honesty. - Excellence. - Objectivity. - Working with high spirit. - Moderation. - Constant progress.

● Strategic Goals - To partake in promoting religious awareness and as well as to imbibe the values of moderation and tolerance in the society. - To highlight the cultural aspect of mosques, to restore its role and to develop the persons working with them. - To develop the official centrality of Ifta (issuance of fatwa - religious edict) in the country and consolidate its position. - To strengthen the awareness of waqf in order to 29

fulfill its due objectives along with promoting and diversifying its resources. - To Upgrade the services of ḥajj and ‘umrah. - To encourage the human resources and make their best utilization to sophisticate the services of the Committee and taking it to new heights.

● Policy of Social Matters General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments is committed to promote religious culture in the context of moderation in the modern universal concepts that can go shoulder to shoulder with the requirements of the age and its variables and to contribute to the sustainable economic development of diversified accounts of endowments that serve and meet the society requirements in order to achieve social justice among its members, and the establishment of social symbiotic relationships between employees and their families and the improvement of the community level, providing a typical work environment free from any discrimination in all its forms, and that does not employ or support any underage labor or forced labor. The General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments initiated the introduction and application 30

of social accountability system requirements in all areas of its activities while encouraging its customers from the owners and suppliers to abide by ethical standards according to SA 8000 with work on continuous improvement in systems and practices periodically in line with local and federal legislations and best international practices with a commitment to the application and dissemination of this policy at all levels in the Authority.

● Policy of Quality Management System This policy aims at spreading Islamic culture, and reviving the practice of waqf and its development, and expressing juristic opinion in religious inquiries between segments of society by building a distinct system of policies and legislations, and framing it with services and initiatives of high quality that satisfies all the customers in accordance with the requirements of ISO quality management system ISO: 9001, and the preparation of the objectives and performance indicators, review and follow-up on a regular basis within the continuous quest to develop institutional capacity and staff to provide the best services and keep up with best practices. 31

● Policy of Environment Management, Health and Occupational Safety This policy aims to promote religious awareness among the staff and the visitors of mosques, dealers, suppliers and all segments of society to improve the environmental performance and procedures for occupational health and safety in all operations and activities within the Authority with the necessary training for them, and cooperation with all parties to rationalize the use of energy, recycling and reducing accident rates and preventing risks that comply with the procedures and legislations, laws and method of perfecting work in order to achieve the trust and sustainability in the implementation of the business and a commitment to the application of the environment, health system and safety in accordance with the requirements of international standards for environmental management system ISO 14001, and the system of the Department of Health and Occupational Safety OHSAS 18001, and the preparation of objectives and performance indicators, review and follow- up periodically with a focus on continuous improvement and control operations, and the dissemination of this policy to all employees and make sure they understand it.