Can I Perform in Congregation a Prayer That I Have Already Prayed Alone?

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: Assalam alaykum

I have read that we can pray the zuhr and isha prayers in congregation even if we have already prayed it and it will count as nafl. Can I apply this?

Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,

Yes, if you have already prayed the noon (zuhr) or nightfall (‘isha) prayers alone, you can pray them again in order to attain the virtue (fadila) of praying in congregation. However, given that you have prayed these prayers earlier, you cannot lead the subsequent congregation.

But it generally isn’t recommended to do this in the case that you have already prayed these prayers in congregation. This is unless there is some other harm to be feared by doing otherwise, such as stirring up controversy (fitna) or becoming the talk of the mosque-goers and the like, namely, by being present in the mosque at the time of these prayers [after having prayed them].

It is reported that our master ‘Umar (may Allah be well-pleased with him) said, “The like of a prayer isn’t performed after a prayer.” [Ibn Abi Shayba, al-Musannaf]

Consequently, it is superior to engage in other acts of worship and devotion seeking Allah Most High thereby. And note that the permission to repeat prayers doesn’t extend to the other three prayer times.

[Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah, with Tahtawi’s Gloss (1.562/2.56)]

Please also see this answer.

And Allah Most High knows best.

wassalam,

[Ustadh] Tabraze Azam

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Tabraze Azam holds a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Leicester, where he also served as the President of the Islamic Society. He memorised the entire Qur’an in his hometown of Ipswich at the tender age of sixteen, and has since studied the Islamic Sciences in traditional settings in the UK, Jordan and Turkey. He is currently pursuing advanced studies in Jordan, where he is presently based with his family.