Which is better: praying Fajr in the mosque in congregation, or waking one's family and praying with them in congregation? And is it possible to combine both by intending the Fajr prayer for the first and a supererogatory prayer for the second, with the followers intending the Fajr prayer?

The default is for a man to perform congregational prayer in the mosque. Some scholars have held that congregational prayer in the mosque is obligatory unless there is an excuse, citing the hadith: "Whoever hears the call to prayer and does not come, his prayer is not valid, except for one with an excuse."

One should not miss congregational prayer in the mosque due to performing congregational prayer at home. Rather, one can combine both good deeds by praying with one's family after returning from the mosque. If this is not possible, then praying in the mosque's congregation is better. However, if there is someone among the family for whom congregational prayer is obligatory, and if he does not pray with him, he will pray alone, then it is better to pray with him to fulfill the obligation.

The Shafi'is held that it is better to pray with one's family at home if congregational prayer is not obligatory upon them, unless his not going to the mosque would cause the mosque's congregation to be neglected, in which case going to the mosque takes precedence. They believe that praying in a large congregation is better than praying in a small congregation, and that the prayer of a small gathering in the mosque is better than that of a large one at home.

If a man's going to the mosque leads to his family praying individually or neglecting prayer, or if he prays congregationally at home and alone in the mosque, then his prayer at home is better. According to the Hanbalis, if going to the mosque leads to the family praying individually, then it is better to perform it at home to fulfill the obligation.

If a man leads his family in congregational prayer after performing it in the mosque, he intends it as an obligatory prayer, and it is counted for him as a supererogatory prayer, while his family intend it as an obligatory prayer, and it is counted for them as an obligatory prayer.