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Fatwa CenterStudent Keen on Performing the Prayer in Congregation
Question
I have to visit a long way (about 20 km) from my varsity to home. It is easier for me to use varsity bus otherwise it becomes tough for me to reach my home. But the problem is that the Varsity bus schedule overlaps the congregation time. such as jamat of zuhr held at 1.30 and the bus starts at 1.15 and reaches to my home at 1.45 and if I take the bus then I has to miss the jamat. what should I do?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
First of all, may Allah increase your zeal in performing acts of obedience. If you miss the congregational prayer in the mosque near you, then you should endeavor to catch up with the congregation in another mosque if possible.
Ibn Rajab 
said:
“Imam Ahmad stated that whoever missed the congregation in the mosque in his neighborhood, then he should go to another mosque in order to catch up with the congregation.” [End of quote]
If it is not possible to catch up with the congregation in another mosque, then you should be keen on performing the prayer in congregation with your family and you will get the reward of congregational prayer –Allah willing.
The reward of congregational prayer is not limited to performing it in the mosque even though the prayer in the mosque is better.
Abu Bakrah 
narrated that the Prophet came from the outskirts of Madeenah willing to perform the prayer in the mosque, but he found that the people had already prayed. So he went to his home, gathered his family, and prayed with them. Al-Albaani classified this Hadeeth as Hassan in his book Tamaam al-Minnah.
Moreover, al-Haythami said in al-Mujamma’: “This Hadeeth was reported by at-Tabaraani in al-Kabeer and in al-Awsat, and its chain of narrators is trustworthy.”
If it is not possible for you to pray in congregation even at home, then we hope that you will get the reward of the congregational prayer even if you pray alone since you are keen on performing it in congregation and you are used to do so.
Ibn Hajar said: “The Senior As-Sibki [as there is also As-Sibki junior] said in al-Halabiyat:
“If a person was used to pray in congregation but he had an excuse that prevented him from joining it [the congregation], and then prayed individually, the reward of congregational prayer will be written for him. But if a person was not used to performing the prayer in congregation, and he had an excuse that prevented him from joining it and prayed individually, then the reward of his intention will be written for him, but not the reward of congregation.” [End of quote]
Allah knows best.
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