It is of great importance to say the salaat in congregation as the Prophet (PBUH) said:
"Prayer in congregation is superior to praying alone by twenty seven degrees. " (Bukhari)
The higher the population of the mosque the better
" ... the prayer of a man with another man is purer than his prayer alone, and his prayer with two men is purer than his prayer with one man, and what increases is more pleasing to Allah. " (Nisai)
GO TO THE MOSQUE: Prayers should be made in the mosque (obligatory for the Muslim male). The Prophet (PBUH) said:
"Whoever makes ablution and makes the ablution well and then proceeds to the mosque, Allah records for him one merit for every step he takes, and raises his rank therewith and also removes one of his sins therewith. ... "(Muslim).
Abdullah Ibn Mas'ud (RA) explained:
"Whosoever is pleased to meet Allah tomorrow as a Muslim, then let him persever in carrying out the five prayers where the call is made for them ... Certainly if all of you prayed in your houses then you would have abandoned the sunnah of your Messenger, and if you abandoned the sunnah, you would have gone astray ..." (Abu Daud)
ARRANGE THE ROWS: As you enter the mosque, enter with your right leg first. Proceed straight to the front row for:
"...verily the first row is the row of the angels. Had you known what its reward is, you would have hastened towards it... " (Nisai),
said the Prophet (PBUH). The rows should be arranged with the worshippers standing toes to toes, shoulder to shoulder in very straight lines. The Prophet (PBUH) often repeated before every salaat:
"make your rows straight, because the straightening of lines is part of the establishment of prayer." (Agreed)
The matured, wise and knowledgeable Muslims should stand on the first row behind the Imam, then those who are next to them in this quality. The Prophet (PBUH) instructed while leading salaat:
"Be straight and differ not lest your hearts may differ. Let those who are mature and wise from you keep close to me, next those who succeed them, then those who succeed them If. (Muslim)
Each row should start from the center at the back of the Imam, then those who come thereafter join on the right till the gap is filled and then the left. Same for the next and subsequent rows. In this regards, Abu Hurayrah reported the Rasul (PBUH) to have said:
"Keep the Imam in the center and close up the gaps. " (Abu Daud)
JOIN THE IMAM: If the salaat had already begun and the Imam is praying alone, join him by standing on his right. Jabir reported the following: "The Messenger of Allah stood (in prayer) and I came by his left side. He took my hand and pulled me round till he placed me by his right side. Then Jabbar ibn Sakhar came and stood by the left side of Rasulullah. He pulled our hands together and pushed us off till he placed us behind him."(Muslim).
When you join a congregational prayer while they are standing, proclaim the takbiratul-ihram (the starting Allah Akbar). In case, they are on the rukuu' (bowing position), you would mention you takbir twice, the first is for joining the sa/aat, the second is for proceeding to the rukuu' position. It is atthis pointthat you are deemed to have still that rakaat otherwise you have missed that rakaat and would have to start counting your rakaat from the next standing position. Do not run or rush to sa/aat: One day, a companion saw that the Prophet was on rukuu' and he quickly joined him by bowing at the door before joining tire row. Afterwards, he walked up to the row. This was mentioned to the Prophet (PBUH) later and he advised the companion:
"May Allah increase your eagerness, but do not exceed the limit "(Bukhari).
FOLLOW THE IMAM: Listen and follow the imam's recitation in your mind, if he is reciting aloud. If he is reciting quietly (sub-vocally), you too should recite Surah Fatihah quietly. Then follow the Imam in everything he does. Do not try to act before him or at the same pace with him. The Prophet (PBUH) himself instructed:
"Don't' try to go ahead of the imam ... " (Agreed).
Whenever the Imam makes the taslim (''Assalam 'alaykum" to the right and left to conclude the prayer), follow him by proclaiming the same words; except if you missed some parts of the salaat which you have to get up and repay.
PRAYING TWICE?: Whosoever comes to the mosque while the congregational salaat is going on should join them even if he has prayed the same salaat before. During the pilgrimage, the Prophet (PBUH) prayed Subhi (Fajr) in a mosque at Khaif, after it he saw two men on the last row who had not joined the congregation. They gave the excuse of having prayed in their houses. He (PBUH) responded:
"when you have prayed in your houses and then come to a congregational mosque, pray with them; and it will be optional for you." (Nasai).
After the prayer, men would wait. so that the women could leave first. Do not forget to make du'aa' after the salaat before you rush out of the mosque. Remember, leave the mosque with your left leg first but wear your shoes, right leg first.
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited