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Virtue of praying Ishaa' in congregation

Question

Is it true that if men offers their Ishaa' prayer in Jama'at i.e. congregation it is as if Allaah considers that he did Ibaadah all night even though he was sleeping ? What about women?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "Whoever performs the 'Ishaa' prayer in congregation it is as if he stood in prayer for half of the night, and whoever performs the Fajr prayer in congregation. It is as if he stood in prayer for the whole night." [Muslim] The above narration indicated that whoever performs the 'Ishaa' prayer in congregation will get the reward of sanding in prayer for half of the night, and not a whole night as the questioner mentioned; and whoever performs the Fajr prayer in congregation will get the reward of standing in prayer for the whole night. As regards your question about women, the answer is that the above narration includes men and women, as the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "Whoever", and this includes men and women. So if a woman performs the prayer in congregation in her own home or that she performed the prayer in congregation in the mosque, then shell get this reward, Allaah willing.

Allaah Knows best.

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