Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

dear sir, can you outline the benefits of congrgational prayer. i feel it also strgthens one`s faith. howver as a bohri, it really feels odd to attend the `sunni` mosques where all are wearing different clothes from what we are used to etc 

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Answer:

Benefits of congregational prayers

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His  forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your question: can you outline the benefits of congrgational prayer. i feel it also strgthens one`s faith.

Apart from strengthening one’s faith or emaan, the act of congregational ‘salaah’ has innumerable benefits…. And the biggest benefit is that it establishes the link between Allah and His obedient slaves, and is a form of establishing Allah’s remembrance. The act of salaat is such an important act in Islam, that it is considered amongst one of the pillars of Islam!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 20 Surah Ta-Ha verse 14:It is I, Who am Allah! There is no god but Me: so worship Me and establish Salaat to remember Me!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 29 Surah Ankabut verse 45:(O Prophet) recite this Book which has been revealed to you, and establish the Salaat. Surely, the salaat restrains from indecent and evil acts, and the remembrance of Allah is a thing even greater than this. Allah knows whatever you do.

The salaat is the renewal of the agreement that a believer does with his Lord and Creator five times a day, and establishes and renews his link with his Merciful Lord. It reminds the believer Who is his Creator, and that One Day he will have to return to his Lord for a full accounting.

There are innumerable other social benefits in salaat, as it also establishes the link of a believer to another believer when he meets him five times a day in the mosques. It also conveys and establishes the concept of the Universal Brotherhood of Islam, where the king and the pauper stand in one line … united together in their worship and awe of the One Creator.

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said in an authentic narration that among the first things that the person will have to account for on the Day of Judgment will be his ‘salaat’.

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said that the difference between a believer and ‘kufr’ is ‘salaat’.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 74 Surah Mudhathir verses 41-43:They (the People of Paradise) will ask the criminals, “What has brought you into Hell?”. They (the criminals) will reply, “We were not of those who offered the ‘salaat’.”

Your question: howver as a bohri, it really feels odd to attend the `sunni` mosques where all are wearing different clothes from what we are used to etc.

Beloved brother, the deen of Islam is not based on what we are used to following, or the following of our forefathers, or the following of a particular sect or self-made religious leaders, etc. Islam is based on accepting, obeying, and following the guidance of Allah Subhanah and His Messenger (saws). No matter what one is used to, no matter what one was taught since his childhood to do, no matter what one found his surroundings doing, no matter what one’s forefathers used to do….when one learns that Allah and His Messenger (saws) have guided to a particular way, he will have to leave everything, and submit, accept, obey, and follow only what Allah and His Messenger (saws) have guided the believers to do.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 43 Surah Zukhruf verse 22-25:Nay! But they say, “We found our forefathers on a way and we are only walking in their footsteps.” Even so, whenever before you We sent a warner to a habitation, its people of means said, “We have found our forefathers on a way and we are only following in their footsteps.” Every Prophet asked them, “Will you still go on following the same old way even if I guide you to a more right way than that you found your forefathers following?” They replied, “We disbelieve the religion with which you have been sent.” Consequently, We took vengeance on them. Just consider what was the end of those who denied.

The truth is brother, that except for the pilgrimage of Hajj and Umrah, Islam has not demanded that one wear a particular uniform when performing any rite of worship for Allah Subhanah. And when Allah and His Messenger (saws) have not restricted the believers to wear a particular uniform, it does not behove the believers, who sincerely fear Allah and the Last Day, to decree a uniform for themselves!

Allah and His Messenger (saws) have allowed the believers to worship the Merciful in whatever clothes they may wish to wear, provided they are pure and decent.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 7 Surah Aaraaf verses 31-32: O children of Adam! Wear your beautiful apparel at every time and place of prayer: eat and drink: but waste not by excess, for Allah loveth not the wasters.

Say: Who hath forbidden the beautiful (gifts) of Allah which He hath produced for his servants, and the things clean and pure (which He hath provided) for sustenance? Say: they are in the life of this world for those who believe, (and) purely for them on the Day of Judgment. Thus do We explain the signs in detail for those who understand.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan