Fatwa: # 22438
Category: Prayer
Country: Saudi Arabia
Date: 21st September 2012

Title

Am I rewarded for leading my family in prayer if I miss the congregation?

Question

Assalamu Alaikum,

I have missed my obligatory prayer in masjid. Can I lead my wife in a prayer to get thawab for jamaat only in my home? Am I going to get thawab for jamaat in this case?

Answer

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

Yes, you may lead your wife in Salah if you missed the congregational Salah in the masjid. [i]

 

This is in keeping with the practice of the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam). Once he (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) went to mediate a dispute and upon his return found that the congregational Salah had already been offered in the Masjid. So he (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) returned home and prayed with his' (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) family. [ii] [iii]

 

Since you are following the example of the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) it is sincerely  hoped that you will be rewarded for the congregational Salah that you inadvertently missed.

 

If you can make it, another option is to try and catch the congregational Salah in another masjid.

 

You may also offer the Salah individually, by yourself in the masjid where you missed the congregational Salah. This has also been reported to be the practice of the Sahabah (radiyallahu anhum). [iv]

 

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

 Sohail ibn Arif,
Student Darul Iftaa
Chicago, USA

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

 

 

آب كي مسائل أور أن كي حل، ٢/ ٢٣٣ [i]

ثم قال في الاستدلال على الإمام الشافعي النافي للكراهة ما نصه: ولنا «أنه - عليه الصلاة والسلام – كان [ii]

خرج ليصلح بين قوم فعاد إلى المسجد وقد صلى أهل المسجد فرجع إلى منزله فجمع أهله وصلى» ولو جاز ذلك لما اختار الصلاة في بيته على الجماعة في المسجد ولأن في الإطلاق هكذا تقليل الجماعة معنى، فإنهم لا يجتمعون إذا علموا أنهم لا تفوتهم

رد المحتار، كتاب الصلاة، باب الإمامة١/ ٥٥٣ دار الفكر بيروت

 

ولنا) ما روى عبد الرحمن بن أبي بكر عن أبيه - رضي الله عنهما - أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم) [iii]

  خرج من بيته ليصلح بين الأنصار لتشاجر بينهم فرجع وقد صلى في المسجد بجماعة فدخل رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - في منزل بعض أهله فجمع أهله فصلى بهم جماعة، ولو لم يكره تكرار الجماعة في المسجد لما تركها رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - مع علمه بفضل الجماعة في المسجد

بدائع الصنائع، كتاب الصلاة، فصل بيان محل وجوب الأذان ١/ ١٥٣ دار الكتب العلمية

 

وروي عن أنس بن مالك - رضي الله عنه - أن أصحاب رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - كانوا إذا [iv]

 فاتتهم  الجماعة صلوا في المسجد فرادى

المرجع السابق: ١/ ١٥٣

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