Salaat Behind Sunni Imam - Congregation

[insearchoflight]

Salaam,

 

Just came across this question on Ayatollah Sistani's website:

 

Question: I am 19 years old and a convert to Islam of five months. My question is, being a practitioner of Twelver Jaf'ari Islam is it permissible for me to pray behind a Sunni Imam for Salaatul-Jummah and for regular congregational prayers, and is it required to prostrate on Turbah inside a mosque?

Answer: Taking part in Friday and congregational prayers of the Ahl-e Sunnat is permissible in areas where Taqiyah (dissimulation) is required. If you are not going to face a problem, you should, as far as possible, prostrate on a stone or anything upon which Sajda (prostration) is permissible. Prostration on carpets in the case of Taqiyah or out of necessity is permissible and there would be no objection in it. But if you are not offering your prayers with them out of Taqiyah it is not necessary to attend their congregational prayers and you can offer your prayers separately.

 

Does that mean there is no sawaab (benefit) in offering congregational prayers behind Sunni Imams? and its preferable to offer Friday  prayers individually (regular zuhr prayers in lieu of Friday prayers) if there is no shia mosque nearby ?

 

 

 

[Abu Tufayl]

(bismillah)

 

One of the necessities for the Imamah of Salaah is that they be a Shi'i Ithna `Ashari and since Jumu`ah is not correct except in congregation, praying in a Sunni Jama`ah during for Friday prayers would not relieve you of your duty so you would stil have to pray Zhuhr. 

 

في أمان الله 

[insearchoflight]

(bismillah)

 

One of the necessities for the Imamah of Salaah is that they be a Shi'i Ithna `Ashari and since Jumu`ah is not correct except in congregation, praying in a Sunni Jama`ah during for Friday prayers would not relieve you of your duty so you would stil have to pray Zhuhr. 

 

في أمان الله 

[SlaveOfAllah14]

Without a doubt, praying in congregation behind a sunni has more thawab than praying alone. 

 

I remember this sheikh who told me that unity is so important in our Ummah, that Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) says in one of the hadiths, that praying behind a sunni in congregation is as though one prays behind the prophet (p) himself. (I can't exactly remember if he said it Thawab wise). 

At the end of the day, Quran says that we should hold tight of the rope of Allah ÓÈÍÇäå æÊÚÇáì and do not be divided.

 

Thus no doubt! that there is more hasana in praying in congregation behind a sunni than just praying alone. 

Edited August 22, 2014 by SlaveOfAllah14

[Abu Tufayl]

(bismillah)

 

 

Salam Bro

You've not answered my question even in part.

Sistani's answer does not say that Zuhr has to be offered - it is any ways mustahab to pray zuhr apart from Friday Prayer,  and there is also no objection to pray it twice during the day as I've read.

 

If Ayatollah Sistani allows it... by saying "however its not necessary to attend", however if we do so, is there any sawab which one might expect from praying in congregation? that is the question

 

:)

 

 

 

 

Brother, I mention what I did for the purpose of you knowing about whether you have fulfilled your takleef or not. The issue of more or less thawab is not relevant to me in comparison to the former. Sayyid Sistani حفظه الله's fatwa is that Jumu`ah with them does not relieve you of your duty because congregational prayers are only valid behind a Shi'i Ithna `Ashari imam and that the Friday pray is only valid in congregation. Standing in their congregation and praying - while you recite al-Fatiha and second sura quietly to yourself - does not count as a real congregational prayer. 

 

في أمان الله