What is the ruling on having multiple congregations in a regular mosque that has an imam?
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The questioner : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Your Eminence, what is the ruling on having multiple congregations in a mosque that has a regular imam and a regular mu'adhdhin?
The Shaykh : Having multiple congregations falls into two categories:
The first category is when it is a regular practice, such that the second congregation intentionally delays in order to establish another congregation. This is a bid'ah (religious innovation), because only one congregation is established in the mosque.
The second category is when it is not a regular or customary practice, but rather, after the first congregation finishes, people come and enter the mosque to pray in congregation. This is prescribed and a sunnah (recommended practice),. And because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Bulugh al-Maram 2:330.
As for the assumption of those who assume that establishing a second congregation is a bid'ah (religious innovation), this is correct if it is done on a regular, customary basis, as I told you. However, if it is an occasional occurrence, then establishing a second congregation is a sunnah (recommended practice) due to the command of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
The questioner : What if he establishes it in his home after the first congregation has finished?
The Shaykh : Yes?
The questioner : What if he establishes it in his home?
The Shaykh : No, it is better in the mosque, because the congregation in the mosque may be larger. People may come in later, making it better. Also, it is the norm for a person to leave his home for the mosque in order to pray with the congregation, but he misses it and arrives when they have already prayed. If he establishes it in the mosque, it is more beneficial for him and for others, because if he and his companion returned home and prayed in congregation, another person might come in, for example, after the first congregation has finished, and find no congregation, thus missing the congregation. So it is better for it to be in the mosque.
Yes, if it is assumed that he knew the congregation had finished.
The questioner : He knew.
The Shaykh : He knew, while he was in his home, that the congregation had finished?
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : Leave it with me. If he knew, while he was in his home, that the congregation had finished, then we say there is no difference; pray in your home. Because if you went to the mosque, some people might be shy to face people who have already left the prayer, so he prays in his home. However, if he had come and entered the mosque and found that they had already prayed, he should not leave, but rather pray with the congregation in the mosque.
Your Eminence, what is the ruling on having multiple congregations in a mosque that has a regular imam and a regular mu'adhdhin?
The Shaykh : Having multiple congregations falls into two categories:
The first category is when it is a regular practice, such that the second congregation intentionally delays in order to establish another congregation. This is a bid'ah (religious innovation), because only one congregation is established in the mosque.
The second category is when it is not a regular or customary practice, but rather, after the first congregation finishes, people come and enter the mosque to pray in congregation. This is prescribed and a sunnah (recommended practice),
Because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was with his Companions one day, and a man entered who had missed the prayer. He said, "Who will give charity to this man by praying with him?" So one of the Companions stood up and prayed with him.
لأن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم كان مع أصحابه ذات يوم، فدخل رجل قد فاتته الصّـلاة، فقال: من يتصدق على هذا فيصلّي معه، فقام أحد الصحابة فصلى معهA man's prayer offered with another man is purer than his prayer which he offers alone, and his prayer with two men is purer than his prayer with one and if they are more (in number), it is more beloved to Allah
صلاة الرجل مع الرجل أزكى من صلاته وحده، وصلاته مع الرجلين أزكى من صلاته مع الرجل، وما كان أكثر فهو أحب إلى اللهAs for the assumption of those who assume that establishing a second congregation is a bid'ah (religious innovation), this is correct if it is done on a regular, customary basis, as I told you. However, if it is an occasional occurrence, then establishing a second congregation is a sunnah (recommended practice) due to the command of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
The questioner : What if he establishes it in his home after the first congregation has finished?
The Shaykh : Yes?
The questioner : What if he establishes it in his home?
The Shaykh : No, it is better in the mosque, because the congregation in the mosque may be larger. People may come in later, making it better. Also, it is the norm for a person to leave his home for the mosque in order to pray with the congregation, but he misses it and arrives when they have already prayed. If he establishes it in the mosque, it is more beneficial for him and for others, because if he and his companion returned home and prayed in congregation, another person might come in, for example, after the first congregation has finished, and find no congregation, thus missing the congregation. So it is better for it to be in the mosque.
Yes, if it is assumed that he knew the congregation had finished.
The questioner : He knew.
The Shaykh : He knew, while he was in his home, that the congregation had finished?
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : Leave it with me. If he knew, while he was in his home, that the congregation had finished, then we say there is no difference; pray in your home. Because if you went to the mosque, some people might be shy to face people who have already left the prayer, so he prays in his home. However, if he had come and entered the mosque and found that they had already prayed, he should not leave, but rather pray with the congregation in the mosque.