Congregational Prayer and Its Virtue

أَفْسَدَ ابْنُ مَسْعُودٍ عَلَى النَّاسِ صَلَاتَهُمْ بِشَيْئَيْنِ بِقَوْلِهِ تَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَ تَعَالَى جَدُّكَ[2] وَ هَذَا شَيْءٌ قَالَتْهُ الْجِنُّ بِجَهَالَةٍ[3] فَحَكَاهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَنْهَا وَ بِقَوْلِهِ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَ عَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ. يَعْنِي فِي التَّشَهُّدِ الْأَوَّلِ وَ أَمَّا فِي التَّشَهُّدِ الثَّانِي بَعْدَ الشَّهَادَتَيْنِ فَلَا بَأْسَ بِهِ لِأَنَّ الْمُصَلِّيَ إِذَا ت

Hadith.1191 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "Ibn Mas'ud corrupted people's prayers with two things: by saying 'Blessed be Your Name, and Exalted is Your Majesty,' which was something the jinn said ignorantly, and Allah (swt), the Exalted, narrated it from them, and by saying 'Peace be upon us and upon the

«يُسَلِّمُ وَ يَنْصَرِفُ وَ يَدَعُ اَلْإِمَامَ.

Hadith.1192 - Ali ibn Ja'far asked his brother Imam Musa ibn Jafar Al-Kadhim (as) about a man who is behind an Imam and the Imam prolongs the tashahhud, causing the man to feel the urge to urinate, fear missing something, or experience pain. What should he do? Imam (as) replied: "He should perform the taslim (salutatio

وَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ مَا كَانَ مِنْ إِمَامٍ تَقَدَّمَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ وَ هُوَ جُنُبٌ نَاسِياً أَوْ أَحْدَثَ حَدَثاً أَوْ رَعَفَ رُعَافاً أَوْ أَزَّ أَزّاً فِي بَطْنِهِ فَلْيَجْعَلْ‌[3] ثَوْبَهُ عَلَى أَنْفِهِ ثُمَّ لْيَنْصَرِفْ وَ لْيَأْخُذْ بِيَدِ رَجُلٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ مَكَانَهُ ثُمَّ لْيَتَوَضَّأْ وَ لْيُتِمَّ مَا سَبَقَهُ بِهِ مِنَ الصَّلَاةِ[4] وَ إِنْ كَانَ جُنُباً فَلْيَغْتَسِلْ وَ لْيُصَلِّ الصَّلَاة

Hadith.1193 - The Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) said: "If an Imam leading the prayer realizes during the prayer that he is in a state of janabah (major ritual impurity) due to forgetfulness, or if he experiences a minor impurity, nosebleed, or a disturbance in his stomach, he should place his ga

لَا يَنْبَغِي‌ لِلْإِمَامِ إِذَا أَحْدَثَ أَنْ يُقَدِّمَ إِلَّا مَنْ أَدْرَكَ الْإِقَامَةَ فَإِنْ قَدَّمَ مَسْبُوقاً بِرَكْعَةٍ[1] فَإِنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ سِنَانٍ رَوَى عَنْهُ ع أَنَّهُ قَالَ إِذَا أَتَمَّ صَلَاتَهُ بِهِمْ فَلْيُومِ إِلَيْهِمْ يَمِيناً وَ شِمَالًا فَلْيَنْصَرِفُوا ثُمَّ لْيُكَمِّلْ هُوَ مَا فَاتَهُ مِنْ صَلَاتِهِ.

"It is not appropriate for the Imam, if he becomes impure (breaks his wudu'), to appoint someone else to lead except for someone who was present from the beginning of the iqamah (call to start the prayer). If he appoints someone who has missed a rak'ah, it should not be done." Abdullah ibn Sinan narrated from him (as)

يُذَكِّرُهُ مَنْ خَلْفَهُ.

Hadith.1195 - Jamil ibn Darraj narrated from Imam (as) regarding a man who led a congregation in prayer without wudu' (ritual purity), then left and appointed another man to lead, but the new leader did not know what the previous Imam had prayed. Imam (as) said: "Those behind him should remind him."

وَ قَالَ زُرَارَةُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ رَجُلٌ دَخَلَ مَعَ قَوْمٍ فِي صَلَاتِهِمْ وَ هُوَ لَا يَنْوِيهَا صَلَاةً وَ أَحْدَثَ إِمَامُهُمْ فَأَخَذَ بِيَدِ ذَلِكَ الرَّجُلِ فَقَدَّمَهُ فَصَلَّى بِهِمْ أَ تُجْزِيهِمْ صَلَاتُهُمْ بِصَلَاتِهِ وَ هُوَ لَا يَنْوِيهَا صَلَاةً قَالَ لَا يَنْبَغِي لِلرَّجُلِ أَنْ يَدْخُلَ مَعَ قَوْمٍ فِي صَلَاتِهِمْ وَ هُوَ لَا يَنْوِيهَا صَلَاةً بَلْ يَنْبَغِي لَهُ أَنْ يَنْوِيَهَا وَ إِنْ كَان

Hadith.1196 – Zurarah asked Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) about a man who joined a group in their prayer without intending it as his own prayer. Then, their Imam experienced an issue (e.g., impurity) and took the hand of that man and appointed him to lead the prayer. Zurarah asked: "Does their prayer count if the

لَا صَلَاةَ لَهُمْ إِلَّا بِإِمَامٍ‌[5] فَلْيُقَدِّمْ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضَهُمْ فَلْيُتِمَّ بِهِمْ مَا بَقِيَ مِنْهَا وَ قَدْ تَمَّتْ صَلَاتُهُمْ.

Hadith.1197 - Ali ibn Ja'far asked his brother Imam Musa ibn Jafar Al-Kadhim (as) about an Imam who becomes impure (invalidates his wudu') and leaves the prayer without appointing someone to continue leading. What is the status of the congregation? Imam (as) replied: "There is no valid prayer for them without an Imam.

يُقَدِّمُونَ رَجُلًا آخَرَ فَيَعْتَدُّ بِالرَّكْعَةِ وَ يَطْرَحُونَ‌ الْمَيِّتَ خَلْفَهُمْ وَ يَغْتَسِلُ مَنْ مَسَّهُ‌[1] وَ مَنْ صَلَّى بِقَوْمٍ وَ هُوَ جُنُبٌ أَوْ عَلَى غَيْرِ وُضُوءٍ فَعَلَيْهِ الْإِعَادَةُ وَ لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِمْ أَنْ يُعِيدُوا وَ لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يُعْلِمَهُمْ وَ لَوْ كَانَ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهِ لَهَلَكَ قَالَ قُلْتُ كَيْفَ كَانَ يَصْنَعُ بِمَنْ قَدْ خَرَجَ إِلَى خُرَاسَانَ‌[2] وَ كَيْفَ كَانَ يَصْنَ

Hadith.1198 - Al-Halabi narrated from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) that he was asked about a man who led a congregation, prayed one rak'ah with them, and then passed away. Imam (as) said: "They should appoint another man to lead them, count the rak'ah (already prayed), and move the deceased to the back. Those

«إِذَا فَاتَكَ شَيْءٌ مَعَ اَلْإِمَامِ فَاجْعَلْ أَوَّلَ صَلاَتِكَ مَا اِسْتَقْبَلْتَ مِنْهَا وَ لاَ تَجْعَلْ أَوَّلَ صَلاَتِكَ آخِرَهَا.

Hadith.1199 - Al-Halabi narrated from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) that He said: "If you miss a part of the prayer with the Imam, consider what you perform upon joining as the beginning of your prayer, and do not consider the beginning of your prayer as its end”.

يُعِيدُ رَكْعَةً وَاحِدَةً[1].

Hadith.1200 - Ubayd ibn Zurarah reported from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) regarding a man who joined the prayer with the Imam but had missed one rak'ah. After the Imam concluded the prayer, he left with the people and then remembered that he had missed a rak'ah. Imam (as) said: "He should perform one rak'ah”.

فِي رَجُلٍ صَلَّى بِقَوْمٍ مِنْ حِينَ خَرَجُوا مِنْ خُرَاسَانَ حَتَّى قَدِمُوا مَكَّةَ فَإِذَا هُوَ يَهُودِيٌّ أَوْ نَصْرَانِيٌّ قَالَ «لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِمْ إِعَادَةٌ.

Hadith.1201 - In the book of Ziyad ibn Marwan al-Qandi and in the Nawadir of Muhammad ibn Abi Umayr, it is narrated that Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said regarding a man who led a group in prayer from the time they left Khurasan until they reached Mecca, and then it was discovered that he was a Jew or a Chris

قَدْرُ مَا تُسْمِعُ.

Hadith.1202 - Ali ibn Ja'far was asked about his brother Imam Musa ibn Jafar Al-Kadhim (as) about a woman leading other women in prayer: "What is the limit of raising her voice in the takbir (saying 'Allahu Akbar') and in recitation?" Imam (as) replied: "To the extent that they can hear her."

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَنْسَى وَ هُوَ خَلْفَ الْإِمَامِ أَنْ يُسَبِّحَ فِي السُّجُودِ أَوْ فِي الرُّكُوعِ أَوْ يَنْسَى أَنْ يَقُولَ بَيْنَ السَّجْدَتَيْنِ شَيْئاً قَالَ لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ شَيْ‌ءٌ[4].

"I asked him about a man who, while praying behind an Imam, forgets to say the tasbih (glorification) during Sujood (prostration) or ruku' (bowing) or forgets to say something between the two prostrations." Imam (as) said: "There is no obligation upon him (no penalty)."

لِرَجُلٍ أَيَّ شَيْءٍ يَقُولُ هَؤُلَاءِ فِي الرَّجُلِ إِذَا فَاتَتْهُ مَعَ الْإِمَامِ الرَّكْعَتَانِ قُلْتُ يَقُولُونَ يَقْرَأُ فِي الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ بِالْحَمْدِ وَ سُورَةٍ فَقَالَ هَذَا يُقَلِّبُ صَلَاتَهُ فَيَجْعَلُ أَوَّلَهَا آخِرَهَا قُلْتُ فَكَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ قَالَ يَقْرَأُ فَاتِحَةَ الْكِتَابِ فِي كُلِّ رَكْعَةٍ[5]

Hadith.1204 - Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) sked a man: "What do these people say about a person who misses two rak'ahs with the Imam?" The man replied: "They say he should recite Al-Hamd (Surah Al-Fatiha) and a Surah in the two rak'ahs." Imam (as) said: "This would reverse his prayer, making the beginning the en

قَدْ جَازَتْ صَلَاتُهُ وَ لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ شَيْ‌ءٌ إِذَا سَهَا خَلْفَ الْإِمَامِ وَ لَا سَجْدَتَا السَّهْوِ لِأَنَّ الْإِمَامَ ضَامِنٌ لِصَلَاةِ مَنْ صَلَّى خَلْفَهُ‌[1].

Hadith.1205 - Ammar al-Sabati asked Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) about a man who becomes forgetful while praying behind an Imam after beginning the prayer. He neither said anything, made the takbir (saying 'Allahu Akbar'), glorified (did tasbih), nor recited the tashahhud until the Imam concluded the prayer wi

الْإِمَامُ يَحْمِلُ أَوْهَامَ مَنْ خَلْفَهُ إِلَّا تَكْبِيرَةَ الِافْتِتَاحِ.

Hadith.1206 - Muhammad ibn Sahl narrated from Imam Al-Ridha (as) that He said: "The Imam bears the mistakes (or forgetfulness) of those who pray behind him, except for the opening takbir (takbirat al-ihram)."

لَهُ أَ يَضْمَنُ اَلْإِمَامُ اَلصَّلاَةَ فَقَالَ «لاَ لَيْسَ بِضَامِنٍ.

Hadith.1207 - Abu Basir narrated from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) that when he asked: "Does the Imam guarantee (the correctness of) the prayer?" Imam (as) replied: "No, he is not a guarantor."

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ يُصَلِّي بِقَوْمٍ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ أَخْبَرَهُمْ أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ عَلَى وُضُوءٍ قَالَ «يُتِمُّ اَلْقَوْمُ صَلاَتَهُمْ فَإِنَّهُ لَيْسَ عَلَى اَلْإِمَامِ ضَمَانٌ.

"I asked him about a man who leads a congregation for two rak'ahs and then informs them that he was not in a state of wudu' (ritual purity). Imam (as) said: 'The congregation should complete their prayer because the Imam bears no responsibility (for their prayers).'".

وَ قَالَ أَبُو الْمَغْرَاءِ حُمَيْدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى‌ كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَسَأَلَهُ حَفْصٌ الْكَلْبِيُّ فَقَالَ أَكُونُ خَلْفَ الْإِمَامِ وَ هُوَ يَجْهَرُ بِالْقِرَاءَةِ فَأَدْعُو وَ أَتَعَوَّذُ[1] قَالَ نَعَمْ فَادْعُ.

Hadith.1209 - Abu al-Maghra' Humayd ibn al-Muthanna said: "I was with Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) when Hafs al-Kalbi asked him: "When I am behind the Imam and he is reciting aloud, may I make supplications and seek refuge (in Allah (swt))?" Imam (as) said: "Yes, you may supplicate."

مَنْ صَلَّى فِي مَسْجِدِهِ ثُمَّ أَتَى مَسْجِداً مِنْ مَسَاجِدِهِمْ فَصَلَّى مَعَهُمْ‌[3] خَرَجَ بِحَسَنَاتِهِمْ.

"Whoever prays in his own mosque and then goes to one of their mosques and prays with them, he will leave with the reward of their good deeds."

مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ يُصَلِّي فِي الْوَقْتِ وَ يَفْرُغُ ثُمَّ يَأْتِيهِمْ وَ يُصَلِّي مَعَهُمْ‌[4] وَ هُوَ عَلَى وُضُوءٍ إِلَّا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ خَمْساً وَ عِشْرِينَ دَرَجَةً.

"There is no servant who prays at the prescribed time, completes it, then joins another group and prays with them while still in a state of wudu' except that Allah (swt) writes for him twenty-five degrees (levels of reward)."

وَ قَالَ لَهُ أَيْضاً إِنَّ عَلَى بَابِي مَسْجِداً يَكُونُ فِيهِ قَوْمٌ مُخَالِفُونَ مُعَانِدُونَ فَهُمْ يُمْسُونَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ[5] وَ أَنَا أُصَلِّي الْعَصْرَ ثُمَّ أَخْرُجُ فَأُصَلِّي مَعَهُمْ فَقَالَ أَ مَا تَرْضَى أَنْ تُحْسَبَ لَكَ- بِأَرْبَعٍ وَ عِشْرِينَ صَلَاةً[6].

Hadith.1212 - He also said to Imam (as): "There is a mosque near my door in which there are people who oppose and are hostile. They remain in prayer during the evening, and I pray Asr and then go out and join them in prayer." Imam (as) said: "Would you not be pleased to have it counted for you as twenty-four prayers?".

إِذَا صَلَّيْتَ مَعَهُمْ غُفِرَ لَكَ بِعَدَدِ مَنْ خَالَفَكَ

Hadith.1213 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "If you pray with them, you will be forgiven to the extent of the number of those who oppose you."

إِذَا صَلَّيْتَ صَلَاةً وَ أَنْتَ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَأُقِيمَتِ الصَّلَاةُ فَإِنْ شِئْتَ فَاخْرُجْ وَ إِنْ شِئْتَ فَصَلِّ مَعَهُمْ وَ اجْعَلْهَا تَسْبِيحاً[7].

"If you have already prayed and you are in the mosque, and the congregational prayer is established, then if you wish, you may leave, or if you wish, you may pray with them and consider it as a form of tasbih (remembrance and glorification)."

صَلِّ وَ اجْعَلْهَا لِمَا فَاتَ.

Hadith.1215 - Ishaq ibn Ammar narrated from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) that He said: "Pray and consider it for what you missed."

«إِذَا جَاءَ اَلرَّجُلُ مُبَادِراً وَ اَلْإِمَامُ رَاكِعٌ أَجْزَأَتْهُ تَكْبِيرَةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ لِدُخُولِهِ فِي اَلصَّلاَةِ وَ اَلرُّكُوعِ.

Hadith.1216 - Mu'awiyah ibn Sharih reported from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) that He said: "If a person comes quickly while the Imam is in ruku' (bowing), one takbir (saying 'Allahu Akbar') suffices for him to enter the prayer and perform the ruku'."

كُنَّا عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ فَأَتَاهُ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ صَلَّيْنَا فِي مَسْجِدٍ اَلْفَجْرَ فَانْصَرَفَ بَعْضُنَا وَ جَلَسَ بَعْضٌ فِي اَلتَّسْبِيحِ فَدَخَلَ عَلَيْنَا رَجُلٌ اَلْمَسْجِدَ فَأَذَّنَ فَمَنَعْنَاهُ وَ دَفَعْنَاهُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ «أَحْسَنْتُمْ اِدْفَعُوهُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ وَ اِمْنَعُوهُ أَشَدَّ اَلْمَنْعِ» فَقُلْتُ لَهُ فَإِنْ دَخَلَ جَمَ

“We were with Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) when a man came and said: "We prayed Fajr in the mosque, and some of us left while others stayed for tasbih (glorification). Then, a man entered the mosque and began to give the adhan. We prevented and stopped him from doing that." Abu Abdullah (as) said: "You did wel

يَقْضِي تِلْكَ الرَّكْعَةَ[3] وَ لَا يَعْتَدُّ بِوَهَمِ الْإِمَامِ‌[4].

Hadith.1218 - Al-Hasan ibn Mahbub narrated from Jamil ibn Salih, from Sama’a, from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) regarding a man who was behind the Imam and missed one rak'ah, but then the Imam mistakenly performed five rak'ahs. Imam (as) said: "He (the follower) should make up the missed rak'ah and should not