that he intended the congregational prayer; for if he had intended the Friday prayer, he would not have contemplated absenting himself from it. It is reported from Abu Hurayrah, who said: A blind man came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and said, "O Messenger of Allah, I have no guide to lead me to the mosque." He asked him to grant him a concession to pray in his house, and he granted it to him. But when he turned to leave, he called him and asked, "Do you hear the call to prayer?" He replied, "Yes." He said, "Then answer it." Extracted by Muslim (7). And if a concession is not granted to a blind man who [does not find a guide for him], then others are even more deserving of that (obligation). From Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Whoever hears the caller and is not prevented from following him by an excuse..." They asked: "And what is the excuse?" He replied: "Fear or illness; the prayer he performed (alone) will not be accepted from him." Extracted by Abu Dawud (9). Abu al-Darda' reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) that he said: "There are no three people in a village or town among whom prayer is not established, but that the devil has gained mastery over them. Therefore, adhere to the congregation, for the wolf eats the stray sheep." Extracted by Abu Dawud (10). Their hadith indicates that the congregation is not a condition (for the validity of prayer), and there is no dispute between us regarding this. Furthermore, obligation does not necessitate it being a condition, like the obligations of Hajj and the period of mourning ('ihdad) during the waiting period ('iddah).

Section: The congregation is not a condition for the validity of prayer; Ahmad has explicitly stated this. Ibn Aqil derived a view suggesting its conditionality, by analogy to other obligations of prayer. This is incorrect, as evidenced by the two hadith which they (the opponents) cited, and by consensus (ijma'), for we know of no one who maintains the necessity of repeating the prayer for one who prayed alone. However, it was reported from a group of the Companions, including Ibn Mas'ud and Abu Musa, that they said: Whoever hears the call and fails to attend without an excuse, his prayer is invalid.