Does congregational prayer outside the mosque have the same virtue as congregational prayer in the mosque?
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The questioner : We are praying in congregation outside the mosque like this. Does it have the reward of congregational prayer in the mosque?
The Shaykh : This varies depending on the nature of the gathering. If it is an academic setting, they have a dispensation to delay the prayer...
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : You can understand the answer: if it is an academic setting, they have a dispensation to pray in the assembly and not go to the mosque. But if it is an ordinary setting, it is not permissible for them to delay the congregational prayer and pray in the place where they are gathered. My previous point was: if the matter is between losing the obligatory prayer and losing the recommended practice, what do we do? We sacrifice the recommended practice for the obligatory prayer and preserve the obligatory prayer. Suppose people are in a mosque, a mosque in a shop in a neighborhood, and they all agree to delay the 'Isha' prayer until the end of its time. In that case, they combine the two virtues: the virtue of congregational prayer in the mosque and the virtue of delaying the 'Isha' prayer to the end of its time, unlike the other prayers. That is all I have to say in answer.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Please be patient a little. When we see that you were about to cut off the speech, we wonder if you have given the answer and the matter is finished, or if there is more. I am asking you.
The questioner : We are asking about the reward of congregation. Is the reward of congregation in the mosque better than in the house?
The Shaykh : May Allah forgive you, this question is not relevant. I am telling you: if the matter is between the virtue of praying 'Isha' at the end of its time and praying in the mosque, we told you that praying in the mosque is obligatory. Do you think there is no reward?
The questioner : What I mean by my question is that we have now prayed in congregation together here. Do I know the reward of congregation? I read two narrations: one says 25 degrees and another says 27 degrees. In this case, it is obvious that 27 degrees is for the prayer you pray alone for yourself. I mean, since we are outside the mosque and we have now established the prayer here, is the reward in the mosque, being a place designated for prayer, better than the place where we are?
The Shaykh : Generally speaking, that is the case, my brother, but we have brought you two scenarios.
The Shaykh : This varies depending on the nature of the gathering. If it is an academic setting, they have a dispensation to delay the prayer...
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : You can understand the answer: if it is an academic setting, they have a dispensation to pray in the assembly and not go to the mosque. But if it is an ordinary setting, it is not permissible for them to delay the congregational prayer and pray in the place where they are gathered. My previous point was: if the matter is between losing the obligatory prayer and losing the recommended practice, what do we do? We sacrifice the recommended practice for the obligatory prayer and preserve the obligatory prayer. Suppose people are in a mosque, a mosque in a shop in a neighborhood, and they all agree to delay the 'Isha' prayer until the end of its time. In that case, they combine the two virtues: the virtue of congregational prayer in the mosque and the virtue of delaying the 'Isha' prayer to the end of its time, unlike the other prayers. That is all I have to say in answer.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Please be patient a little. When we see that you were about to cut off the speech, we wonder if you have given the answer and the matter is finished, or if there is more. I am asking you.
The questioner : We are asking about the reward of congregation. Is the reward of congregation in the mosque better than in the house?
The Shaykh : May Allah forgive you, this question is not relevant. I am telling you: if the matter is between the virtue of praying 'Isha' at the end of its time and praying in the mosque, we told you that praying in the mosque is obligatory. Do you think there is no reward?
The questioner : What I mean by my question is that we have now prayed in congregation together here. Do I know the reward of congregation? I read two narrations: one says 25 degrees and another says 27 degrees. In this case, it is obvious that 27 degrees is for the prayer you pray alone for yourself. I mean, since we are outside the mosque and we have now established the prayer here, is the reward in the mosque, being a place designated for prayer, better than the place where we are?
The Shaykh : Generally speaking, that is the case, my brother, but we have brought you two scenarios.
Source
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The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.