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 (11) without an excuse, his prayer is invalid.
Section: The congregation is established by two people or more. We know of no disagreement regarding this. It is reported from Abu Musa that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Two people or more constitute a congregation." Extracted by Ibn Majah (12). And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to Malik ibn al-Huwayrith and his companion: "When the time for prayer arrives, one of you should give the call (adhan), and the eldest of you should lead you in prayer" (13). The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) led Hudhayfah in prayer once, Ibn Mas'ud once (14), and Ibn Abbas once (15).
(11) Omitted from M. (12) In: The Chapter on Two People Being a Congregation, from the Book of Establishing Prayer. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/312. It was also extracted by Imam Ahmad, in: Al-Musnad 5/254, 269. (13) Its documentation has preceded in 2/72. (14) Omitted from A. (15) The hadith regarding his (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) prayer with Ibn Abbas has preceded in 2/560; it is added to this: it was extracted by Ibn Majah, in: The Chapter on What Has Been Reported Regarding How Many Rak'at One Prays at Night, from the Book of Establishing Prayer. Sunan Ibn Majah 2/560. As for the hadith regarding his prayer with Hudhayfah, it was narrated by Muslim, in: The Chapter on the Desirability of Lengthening the Recitation in Night Prayer, from the Book of the Traveler's Prayer. Sahih Muslim 1/536. And Abu Dawud, in: The Chapter on What a Person Says During Their Ruku' and Sujud, from the Book of Prayer. Sunan Abi Dawud 1/201. And Al-Tirmidhi, in: The Chapter on What Has Been Reported Regarding Tasbih in Ruku' and Sujud, from the Chapters on Prayer. 'Aridat al-Ahwadhi 2/63. And Al-Nasa'i, in: The Chapter on the Reader Seeking Refuge When Passing by a Verse of Punishment, from the Book of Opening Prayer; and in: The Chapter on Dhikr in Ruku', and the Chapter on Supplication Between the Two Prostrations, from the Book of Tatbiq; and in: The Chapter on Leveling the Standing and Ruku'..., from the Book of Night Prayer. Al-Mujtaba 2/137, 149, 183, 3/184. And Imam Ahmad, in: Al-Musnad 5/384, 397. As for the hadith regarding his prayer with Ibn Mas'ud, it was narrated by Al-Bukhari, in: The Chapter on Lengthening the Standing in Night Prayer, from the Book of Tahajjud. Sahih al-Bukhari 2/64. And Muslim, in: The Chapter on the Desirability of Lengthening the Recitation in Night Prayer, from the Book of the Traveler's Prayer. Sahih Muslim 1/537. And Ibn Majah, in: The Chapter on What Has Been Reported Regarding Lengthening the Standing in Prayers, from the Book of Establishing Prayer. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/456.
