Description of Jamaa’at and Imaamat
Q. What is Imaamat?
A. Imaamat means to lead something. The one who leads prayers and others follow him is called the “Imaam”.
Q. What is Jamaa’at?
A. Jamaa’at is the collective saying of prayers with a leader (Imaam) and followers (muqtadi).
Q. Is Jamaa’at a fard, waajib, or sunnah?
A. It is Sunnah Mu’akkadah (emphasized for men). Some scholars consider it fard or waajib. It is highly beneficial.
Q. Benefits of performing prayers in Jamaa’at?
A.27 times more blessings, mutual love and unity, learning Shari’ah rules, devotion, awareness of poor and needy, enhanced dignity of prayers, and many others.
Q. Who are not required to attend Jamaa’at?
A. Women, children, sick, nursing persons, lame, maimed, very old, and blind people.
Q. Excuses for healthy persons not attending?
A. Heavy rains, muddy roads, extreme cold, stormy nights, travel, hunger, or need to urinate/defecate.
Q. In which prayers is Jamaa’at sunnah mu’akkadah?
A. All fard prayers. Taraaweeh in Ramadaan: sunnah kifaayah. Witr in Ramadaan: mustahab.
Q. Least number for Jamaa’at?
A. Two: one Imaam, one muqtadi. Muqtadi stands right of Imaam.
Q. How should people stand?
A. Close together, straight rows. Children at back. Women behind children. Makrooh to include children in men’s row.
Q. If Imaam’s prayer is faasid?
A. Muqtadis’ prayers are also invalid; they must repeat their prayers.
Q. Who deserves to be the Imaam?
A. In order: ‘Aalim → good deeds → Qur’aan reciter → pious → oldest → noblest → dignified → best-looking → high family.
Q. If a better person comes while Imaam is fixed?
A. The fixed Imaam retains the honor.
Q. Behind whom is prayer makrooh?
A. Bid’ah followers, faasiq, ignorant, slave, blind, careless about Shari’ah, illiterate, bastard. Exceptions exist if knowledgeable and pious.
Q. Behind whom is prayer not acceptable at all?
A. Mad, drunk, kaafir, mushrik, child for adult prayers, men behind women, improper wuduu’ or tayammum, uncovered satar, incorrect rukuu’/sajdah gestures, fard behind nafl, wrong timing (Zuhr/Asr).
Q. Taraaweeh behind minor?
A. Not allowed. Allowed if boy is 15+ even without outward signs of majority.