پنجشنبه: 1403/01/9
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Salatul Jama’at

Salatul Jama’at

 

One of the issues that Islam has given a lot of importance to is the unity of the Islamic nation, and in order to protect and maintain the continuation of this unity, a special program has been laid out; and one of the specialties of this program is Salatul Jama’at.

In Salatul Jama’at, a person who holds certain qualifications, stands in front of the congregation, and others line up in an organized fashion behind him, and together they recite the Salat. The person who stands up in front of the Jama’at, to lead the others in Salat is called the Imam of Jama’at, and the people who are behind him, and are following him in Salat are called the Ma’moom.

 

Importance of Salatul Jama’at

 

What has been mentioned continuously in the hadith about Salatul Jama’at is that it holds a great reward. We will now go into some of the rules of this very important act of worship, and point out some of the finer points related to it.

  1. Participating in Salatul Jama’at is Mustahab for all Muslims, especially for those who live near a Masjid.
  2. It is Mustahab that one be patient so as to read his Salat in Jama’at.
  3. Even if Salatul Jama’at is not read right when the time sets in, it is still better than reciting the Salat individually (Furada) in its prime time.
  4. The Salat in Jama’at that is read quickly and shorter is better than a Furada Salat that is recited slowly.
  5. It is not proper that a person miss Salatul Jama’at without a valid reason.
  6. It is not permissible for one to be absent at Salatul Jama’at because of considering it a trivial matter (regarding it as being unimportant).

 

 

Conditions for Salatul Jama’at

 

  1. Once Salatul Jama’at has been established, the following conditions must be observed:
    1. The Ma’moom must not be in front of the Imam, and according to Ihtiyat Wajib, they should stand a little behind the Imam.
    2. The standing place of the Imam must not be higher than the standing place of the Ma’moom.
    3. The distance between the Imam and Ma’moom, and the gap between the rows must not be too much, and according to Ihtiyat, the gap should not be more than one foot.
    4. Between the Imam and Ma’moom, and also between the rows, there should not be any separator like a wall or curtain - but a curtain or things like this that are used to separate the men from the women, is not a problem.
       
  2. The Imam of the Jama’at must be Baligh, and Just (‘Adil), and must know how to recite the Salat in the proper manner.

 

 

Connecting or Joining in Salatul Jama’at

 

  1. In each Rak’at, one is allowed to join in with the Imam between the Qira’at and Ruku’, therefore, if one does not reach the Imam when he is in Ruku’, then one must wait until the next Rak’at to join in, and if one reaches the Imam in Ruku’, it will count as one Rak’at having been read.
  2. Various instances where one can join the Salatul Jama’at:
    1. First Rak’at
    2. During the Qira’at: The Ma’moom must not read al – Fatiha and the second Surah, and the rest of the actions are performed with the Imam.
    3. In Ruku’: The Ruku’ and the rest of the actions are performed with the Imam.
    4. Second Rak’at
    5. During the Qira’at: The Ma’moom must not read al – Fatiha and the second Surah, but follows the Imam in Qunut and Ruku’ and Sajdah. When the Imam of the Jama’at is reciting the Tashahhud, according to Ihtiyat Wajib, one must sit up partially, and if this Salat is a two Rak’at Salat, one must read one more Rak’at on his own and then complete the Salat.

But if the Salat is three or four Rak’at, then in the second Rak’at, which would be the third Rak’at of the Imam, the Surah al – Fatiha and the second Surah must be read (even if the Imam is reading the Tasbihat), and when the Imam of the Jama’at finishes his third Rak’at and stands up for his fourth Rak’at, the Ma’moom, after the two Sajdahs must recite the Tashahhud, and then stand up for his third Rak’at. In the final Rak’at of the Salat, when the Imam of the Jama’at reads the Tashahhud and Salam to finish the Salat, one must stand up and recite one more Rak’at.

In Ruku’: The Ruku’ is performed with the Imam of the Jama’at, and the rest of the Salat is performed as was previously mentioned.

• Third Rak’at

During the Qira’at: In the event that one knows that if one joins the Jama’at, there will be enough time to recite Surah al – Fatiha and the second Surah, or even sufficient time to recite Surah al – Fatiha alone, then one is allowed to join the Jama’at, and one must read al – Fatiha and the second Surah or at least Surah al – Fatiha. However, if knowing that one does not have the ability to read the Surahs, then according to Ihtiyat Wajib, one must be patient until the Imam of the Jama’at goes into Ruku’, and then join the Salat.

In Ruku’: In the event that one wants to join during Ruku’, the Ruku’ must be performed with the Imam, and the recitation of al – Fatiha and the second Surah is dropped, and the rest of the Salat will be performed, as was previously explained.

• Fourth Rak’at

During the Qira’at: This has the same ruling as joining in the third Rak’at. Therefore, when the Imam of the Jama’at is sitting in his final Rak’at getting ready to recite the Tashahhud and Salam, according to Ihtiyat Wajib, the Ma’moom must sit up partially (as was explained previously) and wait until the Tashahhud and the Salam of the Imam of the Jama’at are finished, and then get up (and continue with his Salat).

In Ruku’: The Ruku’ and the Sajdahs are performed with the Imam (at this point the fourth Rak’at of the Imam will be the first Rak’at of the Ma’moom), and then the rest of the Salat will be performed, as was previously explained.

Thursday / 28 March / 2024