Which is better: praying in a mosque full of worshippers, or in a less frequented mosque in order to enliven it, especially if the imam of the full mosque does not adhere to the Sunnah, while the imam of the other mosque does?
The proliferation and abundance of mosques are a sign of good and encourage people to pray in them. However, mosques should not be too close to each other to avoid fragmenting the congregation and extravagance. It is better to build mosques first in areas that need them.
It is preferable for congregational prayer to be performed in the mosque where the largest number of worshippers gather, to achieve camaraderie, cooperation, educate people, and increase reward, as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "And whatever is more numerous is more beloved to Allah the Almighty." An exception to this is if the mosque with fewer worshippers establishes and teaches the Sunnah, while the other mosque dislikes the Sunnah and fights its adherents; in this case, praying in the first mosque is preferred.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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