Ibn Sa‘id, S?lim Ibn Abdull?h, Ab? Qul?bah, Abdir Razz?q As-San‘?n?, Ibn ‘Awn, Ayy?b As-Sukhtiy?n?, Al-Hasan Al-Basr?, ‘Alqamah, Al-Aswad, An-Nakh‘? and Abdull?h Ibn Mas‘?d. (1)

The following are the evidences on the stated ruling:

(1) All?h ( - عز وجل -) said:

[ والذين اتخذوا مسجداً ضراراً وكفراً وتفريقاً بين المؤمنين وإرصاداً لمن حارب الله ورسوله من قبل وليحلفن إن أردنا إلا الحسنى والله يشهد إنهم لكاذبون]

‘ And as for those who put up a mosque by way of harming and disbelief, and to disunite the believers and as an out post for those who warred against All?h and His Messenger (Muhammad) afore time, they will indeed swear that their intention is nothing but good. All?h bears witness that they are certainly liars’. (2)

The phrase “and to disunite the believers” indicates that the unity of muslims must be retained and preserved and this would not be achieved but with joining the Im?m of the mosque in the original congregation which is the first one.

Ibn Al-‘Arabi [interpreted the verse and] said: ‘The verse means that they [muslims] were one unity [used to gather] in one mosque. The hypocrites intended to excite disunity amongst them in their acts of worship and [consequently] lead them to disbelief and disobedience. This indeed shows us that the main aim of the congregation [in Sal?t] is creating harmony amongst muslims’ hearts, uniting them in doing all obediences, instilling the feelings of sacredness towards other muslims so that all their hearts be free of grudge and malice.

Im?m M?lik perceived this great deep meaning and consequently said: ‘There must not be two congregations in one mosque led by the same or another Im?m. And this view contradicts that of many ‘Ulamah!! (3)