Question # 564: Assalaamu alaykum, If I go to a mosque and see that the congregation is over, will it be permissible to pray in that mosque individually or must I go to another mosque to catch another congregation?

Assalamu ‘laikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

All praise and thanks are due to Allah (سبحانه و تعالى), and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم).

Dear questioner,

First of all, we implore Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) to help us serve His cause and render our work for His sake.

Shorter Answer: If one arrives at a mosque after the congregational prayer has ended, it is permissible to pray individually. However, it is prescribed for him to pray in the congregation with others who also missed it, or with other worshippers who had already prayed to congregate with him as an act of charity. Joining the congregation is considered superior as the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) authentically narrated that prayer with others is better than praying alone and the prayer in congregation is twenty-five to twenty-seven times superior to the prayer offered individually. Also, Refer to Question # 173: Congregation (Jama’ah) for Missed Prayer.

Long Answer: The congregational prayer in the mosque is obligatory on men, according to the preponderant view of the scholars, unless there is a valid excuse for missing it, but it is not a condition for the validity of prayer. If a person comes to the mosque and finds that he has missed the prayer in the congregation, it is prescribed for him to pray in the congregation with others who also missed it, or with other worshippers who pray with him as an act of charity, because of the reports narrated by Abu Dawood from Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (رضي الله عنه) that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) saw a man who was praying alone, and he said: “Will any man be charitable towards this one and pray with him?” (The hadith was classed as saheeh by al-Albani in Saheeh Abi Dawood)

Shaykh Ibn Baz said: “The second congregation is prescribed, and it may be obligatory, because of the general meaning of the evidence, if a person missed praying with the first congregation. So if someone comes to the mosque and the people have already prayed, and he is able to pray with another group, then it is prescribed for him to pray in congregation with them and not pray on his own. It may be said that this is obligatory, because of the general meaning of the evidence.” (Majmu‘ Fatawa Ibn Baz)

If he knows that the congregation in the mosque has ended and he is in his house, then he may pray with his family or he may go to the mosque to offer the prayer there with the second congregation.

And because the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “A man’s prayer offered with another man is better than his praying on his own, and his praying with two other men is better than his praying with one other man. The more there are, the more beloved it is to Allah.” (Narrated by Abu Dawood, An-Nasa’i and Ahmad)

Also, Abdullah ibn Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said, “Prayer in congregation is better than prayer alone by twenty-seven degrees.” (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Al-Muslim; grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim). In another hadith, it was narrated from Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri: “Praying in congregation is twenty-five times better than praying alone.” (Sahih al-Bukhari)

With regard to the notion held by the people that having a second prayer in congregation is an innovation, that is correct if it is done regularly and deliberately. But if it happens occasionally, then having a second prayer in congregation is Sunnah, because of the command of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم).

(Most part of the above reply is based on various answers on similar topics provided by Islamqa.info)

Allahu A’lam (Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) knows best) and all Perfections belong to Allah, and all mistakes belong to me alone. May Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) forgive me, Ameen.

Wassalaam