Salat al-jama‘ah (Congregational Prayer) or prayer in congregation (jama'ah) is considered to have more social and spiritual benefit than praying by oneself. When praying in congregation, the people stand in straight parallel rows behind the chosen imam, facing qibla. The imam, who leads the congregation in salat, is usually chosen to be a scholar or the one who has the best knowledge of the Qur'an, preferably someone who has memorised it in its entirety (a hafiz) .
In the first row behind the Imam, if available, would be another hafiz to correct the Imam in case a mistake is made during the performance of the salat. The prayer is performed as normal, with the congregation following the actions and movements of the imam as he performs the salat.[1][2]
Requirements for the imam
The congregational prayer is led by an imam. The imam should be just and well aware of Islamic jurisprudence. The Imaam stands in front by himself while the followers stand behind him in straight lines, all facing the Qiblah (the direction of Ka’bah). The most worthy of leading people in prayer is the one who is the best in memorizing and reciting the Quran. If they are equal, then the one who has the deepest knowledge of Sunnah. If they still are equal in the knowledge of Sunnah, then the oldest of the group. The Messenger of Allah said: “The most versed in recitation of the Book of Allah leads the people in the prayer. If they are equal, then the one most aware of the Sunnah. If they all are equal, the one who emigrated earlier. If they all are equal, then the oldest of them.” [Muslim][3]
Conditions of the imam
Imam of the Congregational Prayer should have special conditions:
The congregational prayer were ruled as obligatory prayer each friday, with Shafi'i school rules the particular conditions that the subjects of obligations were consisted of:[8]
Muslim
Puberty
Sounds of mind
Male
Healthy
Local resident (It is not obliged for those who in their travels or trips)
Another requirements of the process of the prayers are:
There are not any obstacles between Imam jamaat and prayers or prayers and other prayers.[9]
The minimum number of people required for the Congregational Prayer to be valid is two.[10]
In the Congregational Prayer, Imam will read Surah Al-Fatiha and then any surah of the Quran aloud except for zuhr and Asr prayer. People praying behind the Imam should keep silent during the Fatihah. They should, however, individually read all the other things in salah apart from fatihah.[10]
Narrations
Prophet Muhammad himself never omitted even a single congregational prayer. Even in his sickness, it was strenuous for him to walk; nonetheless, with the aid of two of his companions he came (while his auspicious feet were dragging on the ground) to the mosque and prayed with the congregation.[citation needed]Al-Albani narrated the basis of Hadith tradition of the friday congregation has Muhammad leading the prayer by reciting Al-Jumu'ah[Quran62:11], Al-Munafiqun[Quran63:11], Al-Ghashiyah[Quran88:26], and Al-Ala[Quran87:19].[11]
Congregation prayer in a mosque, or masjid, is particularly encouraged for men and is optional for women. Muslim men are encouraged to offer as many of the five daily prayers in the mosque as possible, as the reward for doing so is at least 27 times greater than offering the prayer alone at home.[2] According to Sa'id Akhtar Rizvi, a Twelver Shiite scholar, congregational prayer has worldly and otherworldly benefits:[12]
