Sheikh Ahmed Wissam, Fatwa Secretary at the Egyptian Fatwa House, answered a question about the smallest number to which the ruling applies. Congregational prayerIs a group of only two people valid or not?
The smallest number for congregational prayer
The Fatwa Secretary at the Egyptian Fatwa House explained, during television statements, today, Monday, that congregational prayer is held by only two individuals, an imam and a follower, so if one person prays with another person, the congregation has been achieved and together they have obtained the reward for congregational prayer.
The Fatwa Secretary at Dar Al-Iftaa stated that the reward for congregational prayer is twenty-seven degrees greater than individual prayer, as was reported from the Prophet, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, and this virtue is achieved by simply having an imam and a person praying behind him, even if the number is only two.
The Fatwa Secretary at Dar Al-Iftaa added that the practical application of this is broad and simple. It is permissible for a man to pray with his friend, or with his wife, or with his brother, or with his mother, or even with his daughter, so one of them will be an imam and the other will be led in prayer, and the congregational prayer will be valid according to Islamic law and they will receive its reward.
The Fatwa Secretary at Dar Al-Iftaa pointed out that this ruling is specific to the five obligatory prayers. As for Friday prayer, it has special rulings related to the number of people with whom it is held, and it differs from the ruling on congregational prayer in daily prayers, stressing the importance of being careful about congregational prayers because of the great virtue and great reward it contains.
