1ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ أُذَيْنَةَ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) مَا يَرْوِي النَّاسُ أَنَّ الصَّلاَةَ فِي جَمَاعَةٍ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ صَلاَةِ الرَّجُلِ وَحْدَهُ بِخَمْسٍ وَعِشْرِينَ صَلاَةً فَقَالَ صَدَقُوا فَقُلْتُ الرَّجُلاَنِ يَكُونَانِ جَمَاعَةً فَقَالَ نَعَمْ وَيَقُومُ الرَّجُلُ عَنْ يَمِينِ الإِمَامِ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from ‘Umar ibn ’Udhaynah from Zurarah who has said the following: “I asked abu ’Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, ’People say that performing Salah (prayer) in congregation is more virtuous than twenty-five Salah (prayer) performed alone. Is this true ? 5 The Imam replied, ‘What they say is right.’ I then asked, ‘Can two people be considered a congregation?’ He, ‘Alayhi al- Salam, said, ‘Yes, but one should stand on the right side of the prayer leader.’”

2ـ جَمَاعَةٌ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يُوسُفَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) يَقُولُ إِنَّ الْجُهَنِيَّ أَتَى النَّبِيَّ (صلّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ الله إِنِّي أَكُونُ فِي الْبَادِيَةِ وَمَعِي أَهْلِي وَوُلْدِي وَغِلْمَتِي فَأُؤَذِّنُ وَأُقِيمُ وَأُصَلِّي بِهِمْ أَ فَجَمَاعَةٌ نَحْنُ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ الله إِنَّ الْغِلْمَةَ يَتْبَعُونَ قَطْرَ السَّحَابِ وَأَبْقَى أَنَا وَأَهْلِي وَوُلْدِي فَأُؤَذِّنُ وَأُقِيمُ وَأُصَلِّي بِهِمْ فَجَمَاعَةٌ نَحْنُ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ الله فَإِنَّ وُلْدِي يَتَفَرَّقُونَ فِي الْمَاشِيَةِ وَأَبْقَى أَنَا وَأَهْلِي فَأُؤَذِّنُ وَأُقِيمُ وَأُصَلِّي بِهِمْ أَ فَجَمَاعَةٌ أَنَا فَقَالَ نَعَمْ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ الله إِنَّ الْمَرْأَةَ تَذْهَبُ فِي مَصْلَحَتِهَا فَأَبْقَى أَنَا وَحْدِي فَأُؤَذِّنُ وَأُقِيمُ فَأُصَلِّي أَ فَجَمَاعَةٌ أَنَا فَقَالَ نَعَمْ الْمُؤْمِنُ وَحْدَهُ جَمَاعَةٌ.

2. A group has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Muhammad ibn Yusuf from his father who has said the following: “I heard abu Ja‘far, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, say, ‘Al-Juhaniy came to the Holy Prophet and asked, “O Messenger of Allah, I live in open land (unpopulated) with my family, children, and slaves. I say Adhan and ‘Iqamah and lead them in Salah (prayer). Are we considered a congregation?” The Messenger of Allah replied, “Yes, you are a congregation.” He then asked, “O Messenger of Allah, sometimes the slaves follow the drops from the cloud, then my family, children and I remain home. I say Adhan and Iqamah and lead them in Salah (prayer). Are we considered a congregation?” The Messenger of Allah replied, “Yes, you are a congregation.” He then asked, “O Messenger of Allah, sometimes my children go out after the cattle, only then my family and I remain home. I then say Adhan and Iqamah and lead them in Salah (prayer). Am I a congregation?” The Messenger of Allah replied, “Yes, you are a congregation.” He then asked, “O Messenger of Allah, the female (his wife) goes for her things to do and I then remain by myself. I then say Adhan and Iqamah and perform Salah (prayer). Am I a congregation?” The Messenger of Allah replied, “Yes, the believer, by himself is a congregation.’””

3ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله عَنْ أَبِيهِ (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صلّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) مَنْ صَلَّى الْخَمْسَ فِي جَمَاعَةٍ فَظُنُّوا بِهِ خَيْراً.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Nawfaliy, from al-Sakuniy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘The Messenger of Allah has said, “If one performs the five Salah (prayer) in congregation you should think good about him.’””

4ـ جَمَاعَةٌ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) أَ مَا يَسْتَحْيِي الرَّجُلُ مِنْكُمْ أَنْ تَكُونَ لَهُ الْجَارِيَةُ فَيَبِيعَهَا فَتَقُولَ لَمْ يَكُنْ يَحْضُرُ الصَّلاَةَ.

4. A group has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Muhammad ibn Sinan from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘Should a man among you who may sell his slave girl to someone, not feel embarrassed, if she says that her previous owner would not attend Salah (prayer) in congregation?”’

5ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ جَمِيعاً عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ حَرِيزٍ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ كُنْتُ جَالِساً عِنْدَ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ إِذْ جَاءَهُ رَجُلٌ فَدَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنِّي رَجُلٌ جَارُ مَسْجِدٍ لِقَوْمِي فَإِذَا أَنَا لَمْ أُصَلِّ مَعَهُمْ وَقَعُوا فِيَّ وَقَالُوا هُوَ هَكَذَا وَهَكَذَا فَقَالَ أَمَا لَئِنْ قُلْتَ ذَاكَ لَقَدْ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (صلّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) مَنْ سَمِعَ النِّدَاءَ فَلَمْ يُجِبْهُ مِنْ غَيْرِ عِلَّةٍ فَلاَ صَلاَةَ لَهُ فَخَرَجَ الرَّجُلُ فَقَالَ لَهُ لاَ تَدَعِ الصَّلاَةَ مَعَهُمْ وَخَلْفَ كُلِّ إِمَامٍ فَلَمَّا خَرَجَ قُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ كَبُرَ عَلَيَّ قَوْلُكَ لِهَذَا الرَّجُلِ حِينَ اسْتَفْتَاكَ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُونُوا مُؤْمِنِينَ قَالَ فَضَحِكَ (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) ثُمَّ قَالَ مَا أَرَاكَ بَعْدُ إِلاَّ هَاهُنَا يَا زُرَارَةُ فَأَيَّةَ عِلَّةٍ تُرِيدُ أَعْظَمَ مِنْ أَنَّهُ لاَ يَأْتَمُّ بِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا زُرَارَةُ أَ مَا تَرَانِي قُلْتُ صَلُّوا فِي مَسَاجِدِكُمْ وَصَلُّوا مَعَ أَئِمَّتِكُمْ.

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father and Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan all Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Hariz from Zurarah who has said the following: “I once was sitting in the presence of abu Ja‘far, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, when a man came to him and said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, I am a man in the neighborhood of the Masjid of my people. If I do not perform Salah (prayer) with them, they turn against me and say that I am so and so. He (the Imam) said, ‘When you say this, notice that ’Amir al-Mu’minin, ‘Alayhi al- Salam, has said, “Whoever hears the call and does not respond without good reason, his Salah (prayer) is nothing of value.’” The man then left and he (the Imam) said to him, ‘You must not ignore performing Salah (prayer) with them and behind every Imam.’ When he left I said to him (the Imam), ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, your words to this man seem very big to me when he asked your fatwa especially if he is not of the believing people. He (the Imam) laughed, then said, ’From now on I want to see you nowhere else but here, O Zurarah. What other greater proof you need than the fact that he does not perform Salah (prayer) behind him?’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘Have you not seen (found, understood) me saying, “Perform Salah (prayer) in your Masjid. Perform Salah (prayer) behind your ’A’immah (plural of Imam).’”

6ـ حَمَّادٌ عَنْ حَرِيزٍ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ وَالْفُضَيْلِ قَالاَ قُلْنَا لَهُ الصَّلَوَاتُ فِي جَمَاعَةٍ فَرِيضَةٌ هِيَ فَقَالَ الصَّلَوَاتُ فَرِيضَةٌ وَلَيْسَ الاجْتِمَاعُ بِمَفْرُوضٍ فِي الصَّلاَةِ كُلِّهَا وَلَكِنَّهَا سُنَّةٌ وَمَنْ تَرَكَهَا رَغْبَةً عَنْهَا وَعَنْ جَمَاعَةِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ غَيْرِ عِلَّةٍ فَلاَ صَلاَةَ لَهُ.

6. Hammad has narrated from Hariz from Zurarah and al-Fudayl who have said the following: “We once asked him (the Imam), ‘Is Salah (prayer) in congregation obligatory?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Salah (prayer) is obligatory but congregating for it in general is not obligatory; however, it is of the Sunnah. Whoever omits it in disregard and in disregard of the group of believers without good reason, his Salah (prayer) is nothing of value.’”

7ـ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الأشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْوَشَّاءِ عَنِ الْمُفَضَّلِ بْنِ صَالِحٍ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ لِيَكُنِ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَ الإِمَامَ أُولِي الأحْلاَمِ مِنْكُمْ وَالنُّهَى فَإِنْ نَسِيَ الإِمَامُ أَوْ تَعَايَا قَوَّمُوهُ وَأَفْضَلُ الصُّفُوفِ أَوَّلُهَا وَ أَفْضَلُ أَوَّلِهَا مَا دَنَا مِنَ الإِمَامِ وَفَضْلُ صَلاَةِ الْجَمَاعَةِ عَلَى صَلاَةِ الرَّجُلِ فَذّاً خَمْسٌ وَعِشْرُونَ دَرَجَةً فِي الْجَنَّةِ.

7. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad al-Ash’ariy from Mu‘alla’ ibn Muhammad from al-Washsha’ from al-Mufaddal ibn Salih from Jabir who has said the following: “Abu Ja‘far, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has sad, ‘Those of you who are just behind the Imam are people of forbearance and wisdom, so that if Imam forgets or becomes tired they can help. The excellent row is the first row and excellent in the first row is the place nearest to the Imam. The height of the excellence of Salah (prayer) in congregation over Salah (prayer) of a man alone is twenty-five degrees in paradise.’”

8ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ بِإِسْنَادِهِ قَالَ قَالَ فَضْلُ مَيَامِنِ الصُّفُوفِ عَلَى مَيَاسِرِهَا كَفَضْلِ الْجَمَاعَةِ عَلَى صَلاَةِ الْفَرْدِ.

8. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad through the same chain of his narrators has said following: “He (the Imam) has said, ‘The excellence of performing Salah (prayer) in the center of the rows over that in the left is like the excellence of performing Salah (prayer) in congregation over performing Salah (prayer) alone individually.’”

9ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَفْصِ بْنِ الْبَخْتَرِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) قَالَ يُحْسَبُ لَكَ إِذَا دَخَلْتَ مَعَهُمْ وَإِنْ لَمْ تَقْتَدِ بِهِمْ مِثْلُ مَا يُحْسَبُ لَكَ إِذَا كُنْتَ مَعَ مَنْ تَقْتَدِي بِهِ.

9. Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Hafs ibn al-Bakhtariy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘It is counted in your favor if you join them even if you do not follow them, just like it is counted in your favor when you are with those whom you follow.’” (Ahadith 5-9 are best explained in the form of fatwa.)