Ruling on Salah in Congregation

Respected Mufti Sahib

1) Is it wajib for male Muslims to perform each fard prayer in congregation in the mosque? Thus, if one does NOT perform the prayer in congregation in mosque, will one incur a sin?

2) What should one do if in one’s place there is no mosque nearby?

3) What should one do if school timetable does not enable one to go to the masjid for congregational fard prayer on time?

4) Is praying the fard prayer in congregation but outside of the masjid, for example at the Uni campus a suitable alternative to the obligation of congregational fard prayer in the mosque?

Please advise respected Mufti Sahib.

Jazak Allahu khayran.

Wa’alaykum as Salām wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuhu,

1) Ṣalāh in congregation is wājib (compulsory) although it is not incumbent that the Ṣalāh has to be in a Masjid. Thus, if Ṣalāh is performed in congregation at home, for example, in areas where there are no Masājid, then this will not be a means of incurring sin. Yes, by omitting congregation, one will be sinful.

2) If the nearest Masjid is so far that there is great difficulty in travelling till there for each prayer, then he should get at least one other person and perform Ṣalāh in congregation at home or any other place.

3) He should perform Ṣalāh in congregation with other students when they get time.

4) Yes, this is the alternative.

منها أن الجماعة واجبة وقد سماها بعض أصحابنا سنة مؤكدة وكلاهما واحد وأصله ما روي عن النبي عليه السلام أنه واظب عليها وكذلك الأمة من لدن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إلى يومنا هذا مع النكير على تاركها وهذا حد الواجب دون السنة (تحفة الفقهاء – (1 / 227)

فصل وأما بيان من تنعقد به الجماعة فأقل من تنعقد به الجماعة اثنان وهو أن يكون مع الإمام واحد لقول النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم الاثنان فما فوقهما جماعة (بدائع الصنائع – (1 / 156)