Question Summary:
Is offering Salaah in congregation in masjid Waajib or Sunnah Mua’kkadah?

Question Detail:

Salaam alaykum.
Is offering salaah in congregation in masjid waajib or sunnah muakkadah?

Answer :

Answer:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Performing Salah with the congregation is Sunnah Mua’kkadah.[1] ٍSome scholars have even gone to the extent of saying it is Wajib. The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam has mentioned:
لَيْسَ صَلاَةٌ أَثْقَلَ عَلَى المُنَافِقِينَ مِنَ الفَجْرِ وَالعِشَاءِ، وَلَوْ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا فِيهِمَا لَأَتَوْهُمَا وَلَوْ حَبْوًا، لَقَدْ هَمَمْتُ أَنْ آمُرَ المُؤَذِّنَ، فَيُقِيمَ، ثُمَّ آمُرَ رَجُلًا يَؤُمُّ النَّاسَ، ثُمَّ آخُذَ شُعَلًا مِنْ نَارٍ، فَأُحَرِّقَ عَلَى مَنْ لاَ يَخْرُجُ إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ بَعْدُ[2]
 
“There are no other Salahs which are more difficult upon the hypocrites than offering Salatul Fajr and Salatul Isha (with Jamah). If they knew the reward for them, they would attend (the Salahs) even if they had to come crawling. I intended to order the Mu’azzin to give the azan and Iqamah and order a person to lead the Salah. Then I intended to take a flame and burn the houses of those who did not attend the Salah.” (Sahih Al-Bukahri, V.1 Pg.132, Dar Tauq An-Najah)
 
إِنَّ أَثْقَلَ صَلَاةٍ عَلَى الْمُنَافِقِينَ صَلَاةُ الْعِشَاءِ، وَصَلَاةُ الْفَجْرِ، وَلَوْ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا فِيهِمَا لَأَتَوْهُمَا وَلَوْ حَبْوًا، وَلَقَدْ هَمَمْتُ أَنْ آمُرَ بِالصَّلَاةِ، فَتُقَامَ، ثُمَّ آمُرَ رَجُلًا فَيُصَلِّيَ بِالنَّاسِ، ثُمَّ أَنْطَلِقَ مَعِي بِرِجَالٍ مَعَهُمْ حُزَمٌ مِنْ حَطَبٍ إِلَى قَوْمٍ لَا يَشْهَدُونَ الصَّلَاةَ، فَأُحَرِّقَ عَلَيْهِمْ بُيُوتَهُمْ بِالنَّارِ [3]
“Verily the most difficult Salahs upon the hypocrites are Salatul Fajr and Salatul Isha. If they knew the reward of it, they would attend (the Salahs) even if they had to come crawling. And I intended to order the people to offer the Salah and order someone to lead the prayer. Then I intended to go with a group of people with whom there is a bundle of firewood and approach those who do not present themselves for Salah and burn their houses down.” (Sahih Muslim, V.1 Pg.451, Dar Ihya At-Turath)
 
إِنَّ أَثْقَلَ الصَّلَاةِ عَلَى الْمُنَافِقِينَ صَلَاةُ الْعِشَاءِ، وَصَلَاةُ الْفَجْرِ، وَلَوْ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا فِيهِمَا لَأَتَوْهُمَا وَلَوْ حَبْوًا[4]
“Verily the most difficult Salahs upon the hypocrites are Salatul Fajr and Salatul Isha. If they knew the reward of it, they would attend (the Salahs) even if they had to come crawling.” (Sunan Ibn Majah, V.1 Pg.261, Dar Ihya Al-Kutub Al-Arabi)
All of the above mentioned Ahadith emphasizes the importance of offering the Salah with Jamah. Secondly, the Ahadith explain that only the hypocrites find it to be a burden to offer the Salahs with Jam’āh.
 
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mawlana Abdul Hannan Nizami,
Student Darul Iftaa
Chicago, USA
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.