When Sayyidunā Abū Bakr رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْه heard him coming, he tried to step back, but the Merciful Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم signalled him not to do so. Then the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم sat to the left of Sayyidunā Abu Bakr رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْه. Sayyidunā Abū Bakr رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْه was praying while standing and the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was leading the prayer while sitting. Sayyidunā Abū Bakr رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْه was following the Immaculate Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, and the people were following Sayyidunā Abū Bakr رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْه (in prayer)."^[1]

Imam Aḥmad Razā Khān’s Commitment to Congregational Prayer

O lovers of the Prophet! This event shows that our Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم valued praying in congregation so much that even in a state of severe illness, he  صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم did not find it acceptable to miss the congregation.

 اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه! Those who are sincere lovers of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم follow him and love the congregational prayer, striving to offer it in every situation. It is narrated about Imam Aḥmad Razā Khān رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه that once during the month of RabīꜤ al-Awwal, after attending and delivering a speech at a gathering, he became very ill in the evening. He mentions that he became so ill that he even had his will written.

His condition was so weak that although the masjid was close to his home, he was unable to walk there. However, look at his love for congregational prayer! Even in that state, he رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه did not miss a single congregation. Although praying in congregation was not necessary (Wājib) upon him in that condition, he acted upon what is more virtuous and offered all five prayers in congregation in the masjid. This was done by having four men carry him on a chair to the masjid, and after the prayer, they would carry him back home.^[2]

صَلُّوْا عَلَی الْحَبیب! صَلَّی اللّٰہُ عَلٰی مُحَمَّد

سُـبْحٰـنَ الـلّٰــه! This is true love for the Merciful Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! Today, people make grand claims of love, but sadly, despite being healthy, they miss the congregation and even the prayer itself!

If only we too are blessed with offering all five prayers in the masjid, in the first row, and with the first Takbīr. May this become such a habit that until our last