some of them from others. If they are in the dark, they pray in congregation, and their Imam leads them. Al-Shafi'i said in his old opinion (al-qadim) the same as them. In another place (3), he said: Congregation and praying individually are the same; because in congregation there is a failure to observe the Sunnah of the standing position (in the row), and in praying individually there is a failure to observe the virtue of the congregation, so they are equal (3). He agreed with us [that their Imam stands in their midst] (4) regarding the legitimacy of congregation for naked women (5); [because the position of their Imam is in their midst, so in their case there is no failure to observe the virtue of the standing position, and he agreed with us] (6) regarding men if there is someone among them who is clothed and fit to lead them, [and because he is able to hold a congregation without harm, so he resembles those who are clothed, and the congregation does not cease due to the impossibility of its Sunnah regarding the standing position, just as if they were in a tight space where their Imam could not stand in front of them.] (7) Our evidence (8) is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): "The prayer of a man in a congregation is twenty-seven degrees better than his prayer alone." [Agreed upon (9). If congregation is prescribed in the state of fear despite the impossibility of following the Imam in some of the prayer and the need to break away from him, and doing things that would invalidate the prayer in other than that state, then it is more fitting that it be prescribed here] (10). And if the congregation is prescribed (11)
(3) Omitted from the original. (4) Omitted from the original. (5) In M: "for women". (6) Omitted from M. In its place is the conjunction 'wa' (and) before the following "fi" (in). (7) In M: "And for us, that they are able to hold a congregation without harm, so it is incumbent upon them just like those who are clothed". (8) Omitted from M. (9) Recorded by Al-Bukhari, in: Chapter on the virtue of congregational prayer, from the Book of Adhan. Sahih Al-Bukhari 1/165, 166. And Muslim, in: Chapter on the virtue of congregational prayer and the explanation of the severity regarding missing it, from the Book of Mosques. Sahih Muslim 1/450. It was also recorded by Al-Tirmidhi, in: Chapter on what has come regarding the virtue of congregation, from the Chapters on Prayer. 'Aridat al-Ahwadhi 2/15. And Al-Nasa'i, in: Chapter on the virtue of congregation, from the Book of Imamate. Al-Mujtaba 2/80. And Ibn Majah, in: Chapter on the virtue of praying in congregation, from the Book of Mosques. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/259. And Imam Malik, in: Chapter on the virtue of congregational prayer over individual prayer, from the Book of Congregation. Al-Muwatta 1/129. (10) In M: "General for every person praying, and the congregation does not cease due to the impossibility of its cause regarding the standing position, just as if they were in a tight space where their Imam could not stand in front of them." (11) Omitted from the original.
