Distinguishing Congregational Prayer in the Mosque in Merit and Reward from Other Congregations: A Study in the Light of the Sharia Texts

Abstract

This study addresses a highly significant issue: the superiority of congregational prayer in the mosque over congregational prayer held elsewhere. It presents a juristic, maqasid-based, and foundational analysis aiming to establish that the rewards and virtues mentioned in the Prophetic texts are specifically intended for mosque-based congregational prayer. These merits do not apply equally to congregations held in homes or workplaces unless a legitimate Shariah excuse exists. The study emerges in response to a widespread contemporary phenomenon in which many Muslims neglect attending congregational prayer in the mosque, under the assumption that praying in congregation outside the mosque yields the same reward. This misconception calls for scholarly rectification grounded in authentic textual evidence, the understanding of the early righteous generations (the Salaf), and the realization of Shariah objectives (maqasid). To achieve this, the researchers employed several methodological approaches, most notably: the inductive method to collect relevant texts, the analytical method to study and reconcile them (e.g., by linking the unrestricted to the restricted), and the maqasidic method to uncover the legal reasoning and wisdom behind the rulings. The study concludes that mosque-based congregational prayer is the original and intended form referenced in the hadiths praising the virtue of congregation. Neglecting it without a valid excuse contradicts the practice of the Salaf. Furthermore, congregations held outside the mosque fail to fully achieve the communal, spiritual, and societal objectives prescribed by Islamic law. The research also highlights that attending mosque prayer leads to individual and collective benefits-religious, moral, and social-that cannot be realized elsewhere. The study concludes with a set of findings and recommendations, most notably: the necessity of distinguishing between mosque and non-mosque congregations in religious and educational discourse, correcting prevalent misunderstandings, and strengthening the role of mosques in the lives of Muslims.