Congregational prayers

By: Ayatullah Fadhil Milani
Muslims are encouraged to offer prayer in congregation and it is considered that the larger the congregation, the greater the blessing of the prayer will be. Authentic ahadith record that congregational prayer has 25 times greater benefit than prayer not offered in congregation. Indeed, it is not considered appropriate for anyone to abandon congregational prayer without justifiable excuse. Even if one has already offered a specific prayer, it is highly recommended to join a congregation about to offer it. Those who frequently entertain doubts concerning the correctness of their prayers are required to alleviate such doubts by offering their prayers in congregation.

The qualifications required by those who lead congregational prayer
To lead congregational prayer the Imam must be adult, sane, Ithna Ashari Shiah and Adil - righteous. Further, the Imam needs to be well acquainted with rulings that relate to prayers in general and, in particular, those that relate to congregational prayer. A male may lead both genders but a woman may only lead other women. Those not able to stand, bow or prostrate may not lead congregational prayers.
• While the Imam delivers the opening surah and second short surah of the Qur’an - in the first and second rakaat - those who follow must remain silent. However, members of the congregation are required to participate in a soft voice, so as not to be overheard – ‘sotto-voce’ - in the recitation of all the other passages the Imam recites.
• Those who join congregational prayer - prior to the Imam raising his head from ruku in the first rakaah - utter Takbir al-Ihram, follow the Imam and are considered to have started the prayer together with the congregation. Those who join later than this must wait until the Imam stands for the next rakaah.

Making up for missed prayers
When any obligatory prayer is missed, whatever the reason, it must be made up for. It is highly recommended for this to be done as soon as is possible. However, if one is not absolutely clear about the precise number of prayers that need to be compensated for, to be on the safe side, one should adopt the maximum that one is certain will fulfill these missed obligations.
Missed prayers are to be compensated for in the form that they were missed, e.g. those shortened during travel should be offered in shortened form. One has to specify in the niyyah that the prayer to be offered is in compensation.

The prayer for the departing soul (Salat al-Janazah)
Salat al-Janazah should be offered as soon as possible after the deceased's body has been bathed, shrouded and anointed with camphor. The Salat al­ Janazah may take place at home, in a mosque, graveyard or elsewhere in the open. Although women may not enter a mosque during periods of menstruation - hiad - they may enter Islamic centers not designated as mosques. A building is only officially recognized as a mosque after the owner, donor or charity - waqf - committee in charge of it, announces the intention for it to be designated as such. Although the state of ritual purity - wudhu’ - is a requirement of Salah, in circumstances in which the making of wudhu’ is likely to result in the Salat al-Janazah being missed, it may be offered even if one is not in the state of wudhu’. This applies equally to women in hayd, absolved from the duties of salah, who may join at one side of the congregation.
• This is a manifestation of Allah's mercy for, no matter what their circum­ stance, all may participate in prayer for a departed soul. Salat al-Janazah is the only salah for which no adhan or iqamah is called. The only time both adhan and iqamah are called and not followed by Salah, is after the birth of a baby, when the adhan is called softly in its right ear and the iqamah in its left.
• Congregational Salat al-Janazah is offered standing facing the direction of the qiblah. The deceased's shrouded body, lying on its back, is laid on a bier or in a coffin, in front of the congregation. It is placed with the head to the right of the congregation and the feet to its left. The Imam positions himself in front of the chest area of a woman and the navel of a man. The congregation stands in lines behind the Imam, makes the intention to offer Salat al-Janazah for the deceased's soul, raise their hands to their ears to pronounce Allahu Akbar - takbir - and follow the Imam in reciting the prayer in a low voice. Those unable to stand may of course sit while doing this.

How to offer Salat al-Janazah
According to Imamiyah fiqh, both Imam and congregation pronounce five takbirs and between each, the Imam recites either the shorter or the longer passages aloud, with the congregation doing so silently. Imam Jafar as­Sadiq (a.s.) said, 'Allah made five prayers obligatory, and appointed one takbir for the deceased in the place of each prayer.' He also referred to the Prophet (S) offering five takbirs for all the deceased, other than hypocrites, for whom he only offered four. However, the four Sunni schools of law only consider four takbirs to be necessary.
Salat al-Janazah becomes obligatory once a deceased Muslim is six years or over.
1st Takbir
Allahu Akbar
Then either: I bear witness that there is no Divinity but Allah and that Muhammad (S) is Allah's Messenger.

Phonetic transliteration
Ashhadu an la ilaha ilialah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah.
or: I bear witness that there is no Divinity but Allah the One, who has no associates. And I bear witness that Muhammad (S) is His Servant and Messenger, sent to convey Truth, and give warnings and good tidings before the Day of Judgement.

Phonetic transliteration
Ashhadu an la ilaha illalahu wahdahu la sharika lah. Wa Ashadu anna Muhammadan abdahu wa Rasuluh, arsalahu bil haqqi bashiran wa nathiran bayna yaday is sa’ah.
2nd Takbir
Allahu Akbar
Then either: O Lord! Bestow peace and blessings upon Muhammad (S) and his progeny.

Phonetic transliteration
Alla humma salli ala Muhammadin wa aali Muhammad.
or: O Lord! Bestow peace upon Muhammad (S) and his progeny and bless Muhammad (S) and his progeny and send Your Mercy upon Muhammad (S) and his progeny as the best of Your peace, blessing and mercy was bestowed upon Ibrahim and his progeny. You are The Praised and The All-Glorious. Bestow peace upon all the Prophets, Messengers and martyrs.

Phonetic transliteration
Alla humma salli ‘ala Muhammadin wa aali Muhammad wa barik ‘ala Muhammadin wa aali Muhammad warham Muhammadan wa ala Muhammadin ka afzali ma sallayta wa barakata wa tarahamta ‘ala Ibrahima wa aali Ibrahima innaka Hamidun Majid wa salli ala jami il anbiya' wal mursalin, was-shuhada was-siddiqin wa jamri ‘ibadilla his-salihin.
3rd Takbir
Allahu Akbar
Then either: O Lord! Forgive all believing men and women.

Phonetic transliteration
Allah hummaghfir lil mu'minina wal mu'minat.
or: O Lord! Forgive all believing men and women and all Muslim men and women, alive or dead; join us with them by good deeds. You are the Listener of prayers The All Powerful.

Phonetic transliteration
Allahumma ghfir lil mu'minina wal mu'minat wal muslimina wal muslimat. alahya 'I minhum wal amwat tabi baynana wa baynahum bil khayrati innaka mujibud-dawat innak ala kulli shay'in Qadir.
4th Takbir
Allahu Akbar
Then either: O Lord! Forgive this dead person.

Phonetic transliteration
(For a male) - Allahumma ghfir li hazal mayyit.
(For a female) - Allahumma ghfir li hazihil mayyit.
or: O Lord, this is Your servant the son/daughter of Your servants, Your guest and You are the best of Hosts. O Lord, we know him/her by his/her good conduct but You know him/her better than we do. O Lord, if he/she was a doer of good, increase their good for them. If on the other hand he/she was a doer of evil, forgive him/her. O Lord, lift him/her to the highest level and console the bereaved. You are the All Merciful.

Phonetic transliteration
(For a male) - Alla humma inna haza abduka wabnu abdika wabnu amatika nazala bika wa anta khayru manzulin bihi Alla humma inna la nalamu minhu ilia khayra wa anta aalamu bihi minna. Alla humma in kana mohsinan fa zid fi ihsanihi wa in kana musi'an fatajawaz anhu waghfir lahu. Allahumma j’alhu indaka fi a’la ’illiyyin wakhluf ala ahlihi fil ghabirin warhamhu bi-rahmatika ya ar hamar Rahimin.
(For a female) -Alla humma inna hazihi amatuka wabnatu abdika wabnatu amatika nazalalat bika wa anta khayra manzulin bihi Allahumma inna la na’lamu minha ilia khayra wa anta a’alamu biha minna.Allahumma in kanat mohsinatan fa zid fi ihsaniha wa in kanat musi'atan fatajawaz ’anha waghfir laha.Allahumma j’al ha ’indaka fi a’la ’illiyyin wakhluf ’ala ahliha fil ghabirin warhamha bi-rahmatika ya ar hamar Rahimin.
5th Takbir
Allahu Akbar
9.6 Voluntary prayers
In section 9.5 we discussed the obligatory - fard - prayers that constitute a 'pillar' of the Islamic religion. However, as constant communication with the Creator is highly recommended, additional prayers, over and above the obligatory, are commonly offered. Some additional prayers - nafilah (pl. nawafil) - are customarily appended to fard prayers, others are not.
Voluntary raka’at are invariably offered in pairs, i.e. four raka’at being made up of two sets of two raka’at.
Voluntary prayers that are appended are:
• Two raka’at prior to the Fajr prayer
• Eight raka’at prior to the Duhr prayer
• Eight raka’at prior to the ‘Asr prayer
• Four raka’at after the Maghrib prayer
• Two rak’aat after the ‘Isha' prayer while sitting - despite this being considered to equate to only a single rakacah performed while standing.
• Eleven rak’aat for the midnight prayer

A total of 34 raka’at
Thus, the raka’at offered in any one day - 17 fard + 34 nawafil: total 51.
Voluntary prayers include the following.

The prayer related to Jafar, son of Abu Talib
Numerous authentic reports refer to its outstanding effectiveness as an expression of contrition in seeking forgiveness for major sin. The most appropriate time to offer this four-rakaat prayer is thought to be a half hour after sunrise on a Friday morning.
The first pair: In the first raka’ah, Surah 99 - Al-Zilzal - is recited after Al-Fatihah, and in the second raka’ah, Surah 100 -Al-Adiyat - is recited after Al-Fatihah.
Al-Zilzal - The Earthquake - Qur’an 99

بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

إِذَا زُلْزِلَتِ الْأَرْضُ زِلْزَالَهَا {1}

وَأَخْرَجَتِ الْأَرْضُ أَثْقَالَهَا {2}

وَقَالَ الْإِنْسَانُ مَا لَهَا {3}

يَوْمَئِذٍ تُحَدِّثُ أَخْبَارَهَا {4}

بِأَنَّ رَبَّكَ أَوْحَىٰ لَهَا {5}

يَوْمَئِذٍ يَصْدُرُ النَّاسُ أَشْتَاتًا لِيُرَوْا أَعْمَالَهُمْ {6}

فَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْرًا يَرَهُ {7}

وَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرًّا يَرَهُ {8}

بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

وَالْعَادِيَاتِ ضَبْحًا {1}

فَالْمُورِيَاتِ قَدْحًا {2}

فَالْمُغِيرَاتِ صُبْحًا {3}

فَأَثَرْنَ بِهِ نَقْعًا {4}

فَوَسَطْنَ بِهِ جَمْعًا {5}

إِنَّ الْإِنْسَانَ لِرَبِّهِ لَكَنُودٌ {6}

وَإِنَّهُ عَلَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ لَشَهِيدٌ {7}

وَإِنَّهُ لِحُبِّ الْخَيْرِ لَشَدِيدٌ {8}

أَفَلَا يَعْلَمُ إِذَا بُعْثِرَ مَا فِي الْقُبُورِ {9}

وَحُصِّلَ مَا فِي الصُّدُورِ {10}

إِنَّ رَبَّهُمْ بِهِمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ لَخَبِيرٌ {11}

بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

إِذَا جَاءَ نَصْرُ اللَّهِ وَالْفَتْحُ {1}

وَرَأَيْتَ النَّاسَ يَدْخُلُونَ فِي دِينِ اللَّهِ أَفْوَاجًا {2}

فَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ وَاسْتَغْفِرْهُ ۚ إِنَّهُ كَانَ تَوَّابًا {3}

بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ {1}

اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ {2}

لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ {3}

وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ {4}

سُبْحَانَ مَنْ لَبِسَ ٱلْعِزَّ وَٱلْوَقَارَ، سُبْحَان مَنْ تَعَطَّفَ بِٱلْمَجْدِ وَتَكَرَّمَ بِهِ، سُبْحَانَ مَنْ لاَ
يَنْبَغِي ٱلتَّسْبِيحُ إِلاَّ لَهُ، سُبْحَانَ مَنْ أحْصَىٰ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ عِلْمُهُ، سُبْحَانَ ذِي ٱلْمَنِّ وَٱلنِّعَمِ،
سُبْحَانَ ذِي ٱلْقُدْرَةِ وَٱلْكَرَمِ، اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أسْألُكَ بِمَعَاقِدِ ٱلْعِزِّ مِنْ عَرْشِكَ، وَمُنْتَهَىٰ
ٱلرَّحْمَةِ مِنْ كِتَابِكَ، وَٱسْمِكَ ٱلأعْظَمِ، وَكَلِمَاتِكَ ٱلتَّامَّةِ، ٱلَّتِي تَمَّتْ صِدْقاً وَعَدْلاً،
صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَأهْلِ بَيْتِهِ

اَللَّهُمَّ ٱجْعَلْنِي مِنْ أهْلِ ٱلْجَنَّةِ ٱلَّتِي حَشُوهَا ٱلْبَرَكَةُ وَعُمَّارُهَا ٱلْمَلاَئِكَةُ مَعَ نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ
صَلَّىٰ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَأبِينَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلاَمُ

فَقُلْتُ اسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ غَفَّارًا يُرْسِلِ السَّمَاءَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِدْرَارًا وَيُمْدِدْكُمْ بِأَمْوَالٍ وَبَنِينَ وَيَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ وَيَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ أَنْهَارًا

….اخْلُفْنِي فِي قَوْمِي وَأَصْلِحْ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ سَبِيلَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ

بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ ۚ لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ ۗ مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِنْدَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلَّا بِمَا شَاءَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ ۖ وَلَا يَئُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ {255}

لَا إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ ۖ قَدْ تَبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَيِّ ۚ فَمَنْ يَكْفُرْ بِالطَّاغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِنْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَىٰ لَا انْفِصَامَ لَهَا ۗ وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ {256}

اللَّهُ وَلِيُّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا يُخْرِجُهُمْ مِنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ ۖ وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَوْلِيَاؤُهُمُ الطَّاغُوتُ يُخْرِجُونَهُمْ مِنَ النُّورِ إِلَى الظُّلُمَاتِ ۗ أُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ {257}

بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ {1}

وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ {2}

لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ {3}

تَنَزَّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ مِنْ كُلِّ أَمْرٍ {4}

سَلَامٌ هِيَ حَتَّىٰ مَطْلَعِ الْفَجْرِ {5}

بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

وَذَا النُّونِ إِذْ ذَهَبَ مُغَاضِبًا فَظَنَّ أَنْ لَنْ نَقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ فَنَادَىٰ فِي الظُّلُمَاتِ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ {87}

فَاسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُ وَنَجَّيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْغَمِّ ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُنْجِي الْمُؤْمِنِينَ {88}

بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

وَعِنْدَهُ مَفَاتِحُ الْغَيْبِ لَا يَعْلَمُهَا إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ ۚ وَمَا تَسْقُطُ مِنْ وَرَقَةٍ إِلَّا يَعْلَمُهَا وَلَا حَبَّةٍ فِي ظُلُمَاتِ الْأَرْضِ وَلَا رَطْبٍ وَلَا يَابِسٍ إِلَّا فِي كِتَابٍ مُبِينٍ {59}

اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي اَسْألُكَ بِمَفَاتِحِ ٱلْغَيِبِ ٱلَّتِي لاَ يَعْلَمُهَا إِلاَّ أنْتَ أَنْ تُصَلِّيَ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّد وَآلِهِ وَ أنْ۔۔۔

بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ {1}

اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ {2}

لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ {3}

وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ {4}

بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ {1}

وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ {2}

لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ {3}

تَنَزَّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ مِنْ كُلِّ أَمْرٍ {4}

سَلَامٌ هِيَ حَتَّىٰ مَطْلَعِ الْفَجْرِ {5}