Salat al-Jama'ah (Congregational Prayer)

Salat al-Jama'ah (Arabic: صلاة الجماعة) is the congregational prayer, where Muslims pray together in rows behind an imam (prayer leader). Congregational prayer is one of the most emphasized and rewarding forms of worship in Islam and strengthens the community (ummah) among the believers.

According to Shia narrations, Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: "One rak'ah prayed in congregation is better than 24 or 25 rak'ah prayed alone" (Al-Kafi by Shaykh al-Kulayni, vol. 3). Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) added: "Congregational prayer is such that if two persons pray together, one has 150 times the reward, and if three, one has 600 times — and the reward increases with the number of worshippers until it cannot be counted."

In Shia fiqh, there are specific rules for salat al-jama'ah: the imam must be just ('adil), believing (mu'min), and correct in his recitation. The worshippers (ma'mumeen) follow the imam in ruku and sujud but do not need to recite Surah Al-Fatiha themselves in the first two rak'ah — the imam's recitation covers them.

Congregational prayer is held daily in mosques and husayniyyahs worldwide. In Shia Islam, particular emphasis is placed on participating in congregational prayer as an expression of unity and solidarity. Imam Ali (peace be upon him) said in Nahj al-Balagha: "Preserve the congregational prayer, for it is among the pillars of Islam."