When a prayer is completed alone, it has its privilages and it pleases God. But when it is offered with Jamm’at which is a  gather to make salah with a leader called imam, the blessings increased so many times and it pleases Allah also to worship him with a group of people. Here are the wonders of offering prayers to Allah with Jamaat.

People in Jamaat who follow the leader or imam are called muqtadee.  Sayeduna Anas (Radi Allahu anhu) narrates that the Beloved Prophet (Swall Allahu alaihi wasallam) said, “Whoever reads Salah with Jamm’at for forty days with the first takbeer * ; two salvations will be written for him: one from hell and one from hypocrisy.”

Sayeduna Abdullah bin Umar (Radi Allahu anhu) narrates that the Beloved Prophet (Swall Allahu alaihi wasallam) said, “Salah with Jamm’at is twenty-seven times greater than salah prayed alone.”

Imam Muhammad Gazali (Rahmatullahi Alaih) says, “Salah was so important to our salafsaliheen [pious predecessors] that if they missed the first takbeer they would mourn for three days and if anyone missed jamm’at then they would mourn for seven days.” (Mukashifatol Quloob)

Sayeduna Maymoon bin Mahraan (Rahmatullahi Alaih) came to the masjid. He was told that the jamm’at has finished. Upon hearing this, he sadly said, “The fazilat (auspiciousness) of this [jamm’at] is better than ruling over Iraq .” (Mukashifatul Quloob)

Sayeduna Abu Hurairah (Radi Allahu anhu) narrates that the Beloved Prophet (Swall Allahu alaihi wasallam) said, “The people would compete for the honor of completingn the salah in the first row behind the leader and  if they knew what were the blessings of it”.  (Bukhari)

Is Jamaat Compulsory?

Jamm’at is compulsory for every sane and mature man who is healthy and is able to offer salah in a group. Therefore if there is a mosque near your house or in your vincinity, then people should always offer salah in the mosque with jamaat.

Try Your Best To Reach for Jamaat in a Mosque

The most mommendable act is to move closer to a masjid or mosque with the intention of getting Jamm’at. The muslims should try to keep the mosques filled  and buy a house where the mosque is near. If the mosque is so far away that it is not possible for you to walk or even drive to the mosque for prayers with Jamaat, then make time to come for jamm’at atleast once or twice a day or week or more. This depends on the distance between your house and mosque.

If you are a good muslim, then you should not think that you cannot make it to the jamaat.  If you are lazy or too busy with your work or studies,  then Shaitan will try his best to stop you from reaching mosque. Allah willmake the hardships diminish if you decide to make an effort to join Jamaat. Standing shoulder to shoulder in a row with jamaat is a great act to please Allah and make sure that there is no space between the two persons.

Source:  islamicacademy.org/html/Articles/English/Jamaat.htm