535. Is It Better For Me To Pray Qiyaam Alone Or In Jama'ah?

By Asma bint Shameem 

It depends on the situation. 

1. Scenario #1: IF IT'S RAMADHAAN 

For MEN:

It's better to pray in Jama'ah. 

That's because the Prophet

Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam  himself led the people in Qiyaam in Ramadhaan for a few days.

He also said: 

“Whoever prays qiyaam – i.e., Taraweeh – with the imam until he finishes, it will be recorded as if he spent the whole night in prayer.”  (at-Tirmidhi -- saheeh by al-Albaani) 

For WOMEN:

It's BETTER to pray qiyaam or ANY Salaah at home UNLESS it gives her more khushoo' to pray in the masjid. In that situation, there's nothing wrong with her praying with the Jama'ah as long she's covered properly. 

The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said:

"Do not prevent your women from going to the masjid, even though their houses are better for them." (Abu Dawud -- saheeh by al-Albaani)

And he said:

"A woman's prayer in her house is better than her prayer in her courtyard, and her prayer in her bedroom is better than her prayer in her house." (Abu Dawud-- saheeh by al-Albaani)

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said: 

"It is better for her to pray Taraweeh at home, but if praying in the masjid is more motivating for her and helps her to focus better, and if she prays at home she fears that she may neglect her prayer, then in this case the mosque may be better." (al-Liqa’ ash-Shahri)

2.  Scenario #2: IF IT'S NOT RAMADHAAN:

If it's not Ramadhaan then the scholars say it's a BID'AH to gather together for qiyaam, on a regular basis, irrespective whether you're a man or a woman, UNLESS it happens spontaneously and is not preplanned. 

Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen said: 

“If people want to gather to perform Qiyaam al-Layl in the masjid in congregation at times other than Ramadhaan, this is a kind of bid’ah. 

But there is nothing wrong with a person praying it in congregation at times other than Ramadhaan in his house occasionally, because the Messenger Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam led Ibn ‘Abbaas, Ibn Mas’ood and Hudhayfah ibn al-Yamaan in congregation in his house. But he did not do that as a regular Sunnah (Sunnah raatibah) and he did not do it in the masjid. 

(al-Sharh al-Mumti’ part 4, p. 82)

Shaikh Salih al-Munajjid said:

“It should be noted that this jamaa’ah (prayer in congregation) which takes place at times other than Ramadhaan should not happen by agreement or prior announcement. 

If it so happens that a Muslim sees another Muslim praying Qiyaam al-Layl and he joins him without prior agreement – as happened in the hadeeth of Ibn ‘Abbaas, for example, when he woke up and joined the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam one night – there is nothing wrong that. But if it is a meeting by prior agreement to perform Qiyaam al-Layl on a regular basis, almost every night – as described in the question – this is bid’ah.”

(Islamqa Fatwa # 21210)

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said: 

“With regard to a group agreeing to meet on a certain night to pray qiyaam al-layl, this is bid’ah, because praying qiyaam in congregation is not prescribed, unless that happens occasionally without prior agreement and unintentionally, as happened with the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam with ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Abbaas radhi Allaahu anhumaa.” 

(Fataawa al-Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen)

And Allaah knows best