Chapter on the Virtue of Mosques and Prayer Within Them, and the Virtue of Congregational Prayer and Its Rulings

Al-Husayn ibn Sa'id from Hammad ibn Isa from Muhammad ibn Yusuf from his father who said: I heard Abu Ja’far عليه السلام, peace be upon him, say: “Indeed, al-Juhani came to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family, and said: ‘O’ Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, I live in the desert and I am with my family, my children, and my servants. I call the adhan and the iqamah and I lead them in prayer. Are we considered a congregation (jama'ah)?’ Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: “Yes.” He (al-Juhani) asked: “O Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, sometimes the servants follow the tracks of the clouds, so I remain with my family and children, and I call the adhan and the iqamah and lead them in prayer, are we considered a congregation?” Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: “Yes.” He (al-Juhani) asked: “O Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, my children go about with the livestock, so I remain with my family, and I call the adhan and the iqamah and lead them in prayer, are we considered a congregation?” Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: “Yes.” He (al-Juhani) asked: “O Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the woman goes out for her needs, so I remain alone, and I call the adhan and the iqamah, am I considered a congregation?” Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: “Yes. The believer alone is a congregation.”