Dr. Nasim Rehmatullah - Naib Amir USA & Chairman Markazi Al Islam Team
October 1, 2025
The Holy Quran says "O ye who believe! fear Allah and be with the truthful or the righteous" (9:119) "Ya ayo hallazena aamanoottaqallaha wa koonoo mah us saadeqeen". Getting together at Jalsa and other such gatherings fosters love and brotherhood. That is the purpose of Jalsa. Meet righteous people and absorb the positive energy and spiritual light.
The Promised Messiah always encouraged the seekers of truth to stay a while. Truth and wisdom cannot be taught. Truth and wisdom have to be learnt and experienced. Mere words can never induce the experience of spirituality. Spirituality has to be earned. Experience is to go through it and endure it. It is not a chance occurrence. The Promised Messiah says that a hadith mentions that on the day of judgement a man is accounting for his actions and God will ask him did you go to meet that righteous person of mine. The man will say I never intentionally went to meet him but once met him on the way. God will say then enter paradise because you met my righteous servant I forgive you.
That is why we need to pray in congregation. Abdullah ibn Umar narrated the Prophet (sa) said: "A prayer in congregation is superior to a prayer alone by twenty-seven merits." Praying in congregation carries unique spiritual benefits compared to praying alone. One profound aspect is the idea that the spiritually "weak" among the congregation benefit from the presence of the "strong," collectively uplifting the entire group towards salvation.
When people gather for prayer, divine mercy descends upon the group as a whole. Even if some individuals are spiritually weaker or less focused, the overall sincerity and devotion of the group can lead to forgiveness and blessings for all members.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught that the reward for praying in congregation is multiplied compared to praying alone. This means that even those who may struggle with concentration or consistency still share in the increased reward due to the group effort.
Being surrounded by those who are steadfast and sincere in their worship can inspire and motivate the weaker members to improve their own devotion. The environment of collective worship fosters encouragement, accountability, and positive peer influence.
It is mentioned that the prayers of the righteous can have a positive effect on those around them. The presence of pious individuals in a congregation may attract divine favor that benefits everyone present.
The idea is sometimes likened to a group traveling together: if some are strong and others are weak, the strong help carry the weak, ensuring that everyone reaches the destination. In spiritual terms, the sincerity and good deeds of the strong can help elevate the entire group.
Just as traveling in a group provides safety and support, praying in congregation offers spiritual protection and collective strength.
Praying in congregation is not just about individual worship; it is a communal act where the strengths of some can compensate for the weaknesses of others. This dynamic encourages unity, compassion, and mutual support, embodying the spirit of community that is central to Islamic practice.
If you consider the Jewish and Christian traditions, very often number 27 is considered to be the symbol of the Holy Spirit, while sometimes it is said that number 27 could symbolize divine light, better said the light that is appearing in the darkness.
This number is also a symbol of compassion and unconditional love. Some believe that this number may give a person the highest Siddhi (or, a spiritual gift).
The word "siddhi" literally means "perfection," "accomplishment," "attainment," or "success."
