Praying together at the mosque

Praying together is even better! The Prophet ﷺ said that prayer in a group is worth twenty-seven times prayer made alone (Bukhari 645, Muslim 650). Prayer in a group is called ṣalaat al-jamaa'a.

Arriving at the mosque (you learned the duas in "Duas for every day"): • I come clean, in nice clothes (7:31), having made wudu. • I put my shoes in their place. • I go in with my right foot and say: اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ allaahumma ftaḥ lii abwaaba raḥmatik: "O Allah, open for me the doors of Your mercy." (Muslim 713) • Before sitting down, I pray two rak'as to greet the mosque (taḥiyyat al-masjid: Bukhari 444, Muslim 714). • I walk calmly, even if the prayer has started: the Prophet ﷺ said to come to prayer calmly, without running (Bukhari 636, Muslim 602). • I speak softly, and I never walk right in front of someone who is praying (Bukhari 510, Muslim 507).

During prayer in a group: • The rows: we stand in very straight rows, shoulder to shoulder, with no gaps. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Make your rows straight." (Bukhari 723, Muslim 433) Children stand where the people in charge of the mosque ask them to. [À VÉRIFIER : les écoles diffèrent, l'imam tranche] • The imam: I make the movements after him, never before him, never at the same time. "The imam is there to be followed: when he says Allaahu akbar, say Allaahu akbar." (Bukhari 722, Muslim 414) • When the imam recites out loud, I listen. [À VÉRIFIER : les écoles diffèrent, l'imam tranche] • When the imam finishes the Fatiha, everyone says "aamiin" together.

When leaving, I step out with my left foot and say: اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ allaahumma innii as'aluka min faḍlik: "O Allah, I ask You for Your generosity." (Muslim 713)

Little activity: at home, make a group prayer as a family. One parent is the imam, and you check that the row is nice and straight!

Understanding the lesson

Explanation Prayer in a group shows that Muslims are united: rich and poor, big and small, side by side in the same row, behind the same imam. No one has a reserved place because they are rich. Following the imam teaches us discipline and patience: we do not go ahead, we wait our turn, as in a good team. The mosque is the house of Allah: we come to it clean, calm and respectful, so that everyone can pray and read the Qur'an in peace. Whoever keeps the mosque clean and calm does a good deed.

Lessons to draw from it • I go to the mosque with my parents whenever I can, especially on Fridays. • In the row, I stand straight and keep my shoulder against my neighbour's. • I follow the imam, without going faster than him.

Key points to remember • Prayer in a group is worth 27 times more (Bukhari 645, Muslim 650). • Very straight rows (Bukhari 723, Muslim 433). • The imam is there to be followed (Bukhari 722, Muslim 414). • Go in with the right foot, two rak'as of greeting, go out with the left foot (Muslim 713; Bukhari 444, Muslim 714).

The main message At the mosque, I pray with my brothers and sisters, in straight rows behind the imam: the reward is multiplied and the house of Allah is respected.