The Fiqh of Jama'at

[abdallah]

All info is taken from Heavenly Ornaments

SALAAT WITH JAMA'AT (CONGREGATION)

THE IMAM AND MUQTADI

To offer salaat with jama'at means that at least two people must get together and offer their salaat in such a way that one person leads the salaat and the other person follows him. The person who leads the salaat is called the imam, and the person who follows him is called the muqtadi.

HOW MANY PEOPLE MAKE A CONGREGATION?

If even one person joins the imam, jama'at becomes valid. This is irrespective of whether the person is a man, woman, slave, free person, mature person or a child who has reached the age of understanding. However, for the jumu'ah and eid salaats, there has to be at least three persons apart from the imam.

JAMAAT FOR NAFL IS POSSIBLE, BUT SHOULDNT BE MADE INTO HABIT

In order for the jama'at to be valid, it is not necessary for the salaat to be a fard salaat. Even if it is a nafl salaat and two people get together and offer it with jama'at, it will be valid. This is irrespective of whether both the imam and the muqtadi are offering nafl salaat, or only the muqtadi is offering nafl salaat and the imam is offering fard salaat. However, it is makruh to make a habit of offering nafl salaat with jama'at or for more than three people to offer nafl salaat with jama'at.

[abdallah]

Conditions which make Jama'at Wajib

1. To be a male - jama'at is not wajib on women.

2. To be mature - jama'at is not wajib on children who have not reached the age of puberty.

3. To be a free person - jama'at is not wajib on a slave.

4. One must be in one's senses - jama'at is not wajib on a person who is intoxicated, unconscious, or a lunatic.

5. To be free from all excuses - in the presence of these excuses, jama'at is not wajib.

However, it will be better if he offers his salaat with jama'at despite having an excuse. If he does not offer with jama'at, he will be deprived of the reward. .

The excuses for leaving out jama'at are fourteen:

a) The absence of sufficient clothing with which one could cover one's aurah (private area).

b) An abundance of mud on the road leading to the musjid which would make walking extremely difficult.. Once Imam Abu Yusuf rahmatullahi alayh asked Imam Abu Hanifah rahmatullahi alayh on his view regarding attending jama'at if there is a lot of mud, etc. on the road. He replied that he does not like the idea of abandoning the jama'at.

c) At the time of a heavy downpour. Imam Muhammad rahmatullahi alayh has written in his Muwatta that although it is permissible not to attend the jama'at in such a case, it will be preferable to go and offer the salaat with jama'at.

d) When it is extremely cold and one fears that by going out towards the musjid, one will fall ill or that the sickness will worsen.

e) There is a fear of his wealth and possessions getting stolen by going to the musjid.

f) There is a fear of meeting an enemy by going to the musjid.

g) By going to the musjid there is a fear of meeting his creditor and he fears some harm from him. This is on the condition that he is unable to fulfil his debt. If he is able to fulfil his debt, he will be regarded as an oppressor and it will not be permissible for him to discard the jama'at.

h) The night is very dark and the road cannot be seen. However, if Allah Ta'ala has blessed him with those things with which he could see the road, he should not leave out the jama'at.

i) It is the time of night and there is a very severe sand-storm.

j) He is taking care of a sick person and fears that if he goes for the jama'at, some harm may befall the sick person or that he might feel uneasy.

k) The food has been prepared or is on the verge of being prepared and he is so hungry that he fears that he will not be able to concentrate in his salaat.

l) He has an urgent need to go and relieve himself.

m) He intends to embark on a journey and fears that if he goes to offer his salaat with jama'at, he will get delayed and that the caravan will leave him. Travelling by train can also be based on this mas'ala with the exception that when one caravan departs, the following one leaves after many days. While several trains depart in one day - if a person misses one train he can always take the next one. However, if there is an urgency, then there will be no harm in taking the first train. Urgency or any other valid reason is excusable in our Shariah.

n) He is afflicted with such a sickness whereby he cannot walk, or he is blind, crippled or one of his legs have been amputated. However, the blind person who can walk to the musjid without any difficulty should not leave out the jama'at.