1. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims
  2. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

46 Questions

While gathered for majlis at someone's home can we offer the regular prayers in congregation without a religious scholar to lead? If so what requirements does that prayer leader have to meet for it to be a valid congregation?
Zaid Alsalami

Bismihi ta'ala

It is always mustahab to perform wajib prayers in congregation. There are many traditions that emphasise on Jama'ah prayers, and how multiplied the reward will be when conducted in congregation. 

With the absence of a qualified religious scholar, there will still be a virtue of Jama'ah prayer. In brief, the person who leads should be known for his piety, and also have knowledge of the rulings of prayer. 

And Allah knows best. 
If Maghrib is at 5:00 PM and doesn't end for another few hours, is it better to pray by yourself at that time or wait for your family and pray together about 10-20 minutes later? Why or why not would either case be better?
Abbas Di Palma

Congregational prayer and prayer at the beginning of its time are both considered highly recommended in Islam. In "Wasa'il al-Shi'a" has been reported from one of the A'imma, peace be upon them, that congregational prayer is not mandatory but rather a sunna, however once it has been established it is not appropriate for the believer to abandon it with no valid justification to the point that Imam said: "Who abandons the congregation of the believers with dislike without any valid reason, in fact has not prayed". Another narration from the same source on the authority of Imam al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, says: "For each salat, there are two times and its first time is the best one. No one should delay it until its last time unless he has a valid justification". Regarding more specifically your question, considering that praying 10-20 minutes later may still be considered as "its first time" according to the 'urf, by waiting for your family you would get the blessing of both congregational prayer and prayer at the beginning of its time.  You may also use those 10-20 minutes for preparing a suitable environment for the Jama'ah and recite some adhkar.

With prayers for your success.