The person who is going to be led in congregational prayer...

The person who is going to be led in congregational prayer has to satisfy himself with the knowledge that the prayer of the imam be in order. For example, if the person taking part in congregational prayer knew for sure that the wudhu of the imam was not in order because he unknowingly used water that was najis, it is not permissible for them to pray behind the imam. * How should I go about performing congregational prayer?

●If there were two of you, one should stand to the right, and lightly behind, the one who leads the prayer. If, however, there are more than two, the rest must stand behind the imam without a barrier such as a wall separating them from the imam. The place where the prayer is conducted should be even. The imam’s position should not be higher than the position of those following him in prayer. The gap between the imam and the rest of the congregation must not be great.

Nor should the gap separating the worshippers, standing side by side in prayer. * Can I say that the gap between the imam and each one of the rows of worshippers be a meter or so? - [Yes, approximately one meter]. To achieve linkage between the imam and the rest of the congregation, it suffices that it be done through one worshipper in any direction. * And what else? - The worshippers must follow the imam in what he says and does from takiratul ihram to tasleem, i.e.

they must not say or do anything before him. The only difference is that the worshippers could choose not to recite the two chapters, for the imam’s recitation makes up for theirs. * Suppose I was a bit late in joining the congregation. When can I join in? - You may join in while the imam is either in a standing position or during a ruku. Should you join in during a ruku, you need not worry about the recitation of the two chapters.

* If I happened to join in while the imam was uttering the tasbihat in either the third or fourth ruku’? - You should utter takbiratul ihram and recite the two chapters in a low voice, and if there is not sufficient time for both the chapters, it suffices to recite al-Fatiha. * Suppose the congregation were conducting asr prayer, and I want to say dhuhr. Would it still be all right if I join in?

●Yes, there are no restriction on joining congregational prayer, irrespective of the form of difference between the prayer you intend to say and that the congregation is engaged in.

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