FatwaFederal TerritoriesPrayer (Salah)
AL-KAFI #1512 : MANA LEBIH UTAMA, SOLAT AWAL WAKTU SENDIRIAN ATAU LEWAT TAPI BERJEMAAH?
Which is better, praying alone at the start of the prayer time or praying in congregation slightly later?
Short answer
If possible, the best approach is to pray alone at the start of the time first, then pray again in congregation, with the second prayer counting as a voluntary prayer.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Federal Territories Mufti Office
- Date
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Al-Kafi li al-Fatawi
- Topic
- Prayer (Salah)
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
If possible, the best approach is to pray alone at the start of the time first, then pray again in congregation, with the second prayer counting as a voluntary prayer. If one only wishes to pray once, waiting for the congregation is better, provided one is sure of getting the congregation, plenty of time remains, and the prayer time does not lapse. The fatwa notes that Shafie scholars differed on the matter and adopts the conclusion of Imam al-Nawawi. The ruling also applies to congregations at workplaces or hostel prayer rooms.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Tuntasnya, yang terbaik ialah untuk isteri solat pada awal waktu secara sendirian terlebih dahulu, kemudian solat berjemaah bersama suami, dan solat yang kedua menjadi solat sunat baginya.
Read the full fatwa on the Federal Territories website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Federal Territories Mufti Office. “AL-KAFI #1512 : MANA LEBIH UTAMA, SOLAT AWAL WAKTU SENDIRIAN ATAU LEWAT TAPI BERJEMAAH?”, 9 January 2020. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/al-kafi-li-al-fatawi/3957-al-kafi-1512-mana-lebih-utama-solat-awal-waktu-sendirian-atau-lewat-tapi-berjemaah. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/early-prayer-alone-or-late-in-congregation/