I pray with my eight-year-old son. Is it considered a congregational prayer? Do I have to raise my voice with the Takbeer?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

There is a difference in opinions among the scholars regarding attaining the virtue of the congregational prayer if someone offered the prayer with a child:

- Some of them approved it; Imaam An-Nawawi, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: "If an individual offered the prayer as an Imaam with his friend or wife or son he obtains the virtue of the congregational prayer.”

- However, the view of the Maalikis and one of the two narrations of Imaam Ahmad hold that the individual who offered the prayer with a child does not obtain the virtue of the congregational prayer. Therefore, he is considered as if he offered it alone, so it is recommended for him to reoffer the prayer in a congregation according to this view.

But there is no scholarly disagreement that the prayer of men in the mosque is superior to offering it at home, so my dear brother, take many more steps to the mosques and refrain from laziness.

As to the Imaam raising his voice with Takbeer, it is recommended.