The Book Of Prayer (Kitaab-ul-Salaat)

It is a sin to appoint an astray person whose beliefs have not reached blasphemy, or persons who
openly commit grave sins (e.g. adulterers, drunkards, gamblers, usurers, perons who remove
their beards or trim the beard to less than a fist long etc.,) as leaders in Prayer. Prayer behind
such persons is “ Makrooh” Tahreemi (makes the Prayer highly defective) and must be reoffered.
Prayer cannot be offered behind any astray person whose beliefs have reached blasphemy. For
example (a) Rafidi Shia - even if he only denies the Caliphate of Syedna Abu Bakr (may Allah
be well pleased with him) or curses the first 2 Caliphs, or (b) One who denies pre-ordained
destiny, or (c) One who denies intercession by the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon
him), or (d) One who denies the Vision of Allah, or (e) One who denies punishment of the grave,
or (f) One who denies existence of the 2 recording angels, and (g) Worse than those listed above
are those who call themselves Muslims and pretend to be following the Sunnah whilst denying
the tenets of Islam, and are insolent towards Allah and His Holy Prophet, or those who deem
such insolent people as Muslims - Prayer is invalid behind all these.
The Importance Of Prayer In Congregation.
It is Essential (Wajib) upon every sane, adult and capable person to offer the Prayer along with
the congregation. One who leaves it without a valid excuse even once, is an offender and
deserves punishment. One who leaves it several times is a proclaimed sinner and disqualified
from giving witness, and will be punished severely.
The Holy Prophet Mohammed (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "My heart desires that I
should command some young men to gather a lot of fuel (firewood), and then I may go to those
who pray in their homes without an excuse, and burn their houses." (Muslim)
The importance of praying in congregation has already been mentioned at the beginning of the
book. The following circumstances exempt one from attending Prayer in congregation:-
A patient who faces difficulty in going to the mosque.
An invalid person whose leg is cut off, is paralyzed or blind.
One who is too old and incapable of going to the mosque.
Torrential rain, severe sludge, extreme darkness or storm on the way.
Fear of losing property or food.
A person who cannot repay his debts, fearing the creditor.
Fear of an oppressor
A person in urgent need to relieve himself of stool, urine or to break wind.
Fear of losing conveyance.
Presence of food whilst having the dire urge to eat.
Attending a sick person, whilst fearing that going for congregation will cause difficulty
for the patient or make the patient nervous.
RULES OF CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER