Salaah in Jamaat

During the interval of 24 hours, we have 5 Salaah which are Farz. To perform them in Jamaat is Sunnat-e-Mu'akkadah. That is, a regular practice of Nabi (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) that he never neglected without any valid reason. Thus, a Muslim must not leave it out without a valid reason. Nabi (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) has put emphasis on this greatly. He has even threatened to burn the houses of those who do not perform Salaah in Jamaat in the Masjid. This has led certain 'Ulama to say that to perform Farz Salah in Jamaat is Waajib. In any case, making it a habit to neglect Jamaat is very detestable. It renders a person so unworthy that his testimony is not accepted. 

To perform Salaah in Jamaat is one of the Sunnan-ul-Huda, that is, the principles that keeps a person on the right track. According to Hazrat Abdullah Bin Mas'ud (Radiyallaahu Anhu), a person who often misses his Salaah in Jamaat becomes very vulnerable and this eventually leads him to extreme deviation. We should not neglect Salaah in Jamaat for flimsy excuses.

Note that the importance and virtue of performing Salaah in Jamaat applies to men. It does not apply to women. The best place for women to perform their salaah is inside their home. Just as it is against the Sunnah not to perform Salaah in Jamaat in the Masjid for men, in the same way it is against the Sunnah to invite the ladies to perform Salaah in the Masjid.

[English version of "Namaz avec jama’at" – Al Jamiat – Vol.6 No.15]