Tickets To Paradise--Ticket #8 (Praying the Congregation Prayer at the Masjid)

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

The Prophet, sallallaahualayhi wasallam, said,

“Allah will prepare for him who goes to the Masjid in the morning and in the afternoon (for the congregation prayer) an honorable place in Paradise with good hospitality.”

Congregational prayer for men is one of the major symbols of Islam, the most emphasized of the sunnas of the Beloved of Allah sallallaahualayhi wasallam and his joy in this world, and a means for individuals and communities to strengthen their relations with the Lord.

For those who are unable to pray at the masjid but able to pray in congregation with other Muslims (such as co-workers or one’s wife), they get the reward of praying in congregation if they take the means and establish such congregations at work or at home. Then, when they are able to go to the mosque, they should hasten to do so. If, while doing this, they have the firm and sincere intention that had they been able to go to the masjid they genuinely would have, they get (some or all of the) reward of praying at the masjid itself.

As for women, a woman's prayer at home has more reward than for her to pray in the masjid. In one narration, it has more reward than praying in the Prophet's masjid itself, upon its dweller the best of blessings and most perfect of peace. Some scholars mention that the reward that men get for praying in congregation is attained by women when they pray at home. But, many scholars note that if a woman goes to the masjid to attain beneficial religious knowledge (or other religious benefit) that may not be reasonably obtained elsewhere, then it would be praiseworthy for her to go to the masjid, as long as there is no intermingling and no resultant fitna or negligence of primary responsibilities (such as in the case of a wife). This must be done according to the proper Islamic behavior, i.e. the woman should be properly dressed, get to the masjid in an appropriate and safe manner and not travel alone at night, and avoid all intermingling with men.

May Allah give you tawfiq. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam