Recommended prayers cannot be offered in congregation except...

Recommended prayers cannot be offered in congregation except Isatasqa prayers (which is offered for rains) or prayers which were obligatory at one time, but became recommended later (e.g. Eidul Fitr and Eidul Azha prayers, which were obligatory during the period of Imam Mahdi (P) and have become re- commended since his Occultation). 1417. When the Imam of the congregation is leading one of the five daily prayers, any of the daily prayers can be offered behind him. 1418.

If the Imam of the congregation is offering his own daily lapsed prayers, or on behalf of another person whose prayers has certainly lapsed he can be followed. However, if he is offering as a precautionary measure his own lapsed prayers or of the prayers of another person. it is not permissible to follow him. 1419. If a person does not know whether the prayers which is being led by the Imam is an obligatory daily prayers or a recommended prayers, he cannot follow him. 1420.

For the congregation being in order it is a pre-requisite that there is no barrier between the imam and the follower (Muqtadi) and between one follower and the other follower, who is a link between that follower and the Imam. And a barrier is something which obstructs seeing, such as a curtain or a wall etc.

Hence, if in all or some conditions of the prayers there is such a barrier between the Imam and the follower or between one follower and the other follower, who is the means of connection, the congregation will be void. However, it will be explained later, a woman is exempted from this order. 1421.

If the persons standing on the two sides of the first row cannot see the Imam owing to the row being long, they can follow the Imam; and similarly if out of the other rows, the persons, standing on the two sides of a particular row, cannot see, owing to their row being long, the row, which is in front of them even then they can follow the Imam. 1422.

If the rows of the congregation reach the gate of the masjid, the prayer of a person, who is standing in front of the gate behind the row is in order and the prayers of those persons, who are following the Imam while standing behind that person, is also in order. Rather, the prayers of those persons who are standing on both the sides and are linked with the congregation by means of some other followers are also in order. 1423. If a person who is standing behind a pillar.