What are the conditions for congregational prayer?

For the congregational prayer (Salat al-Jama'ah) to be valid, certain conditions must be met. These include: the presence of two or more individuals, that the Imam be male if those praying behind him are male, though a woman's imamate for other women is valid. The Imam must also recite Surah (definition) Al-Fatihah well and everything else essential for the prayer's validity, and perform the pillars [of prayer]. The follower (Ma'mum) must intend to follow the Imam concurrently with the Takbirat al-Ihram (definition). The follower must also hear the Imam's Takbir, or see him, or see someone behind him if they are in the same mosque. If the follower is outside the mosque, it is a condition that they hear the Takbir and that the rows be connected.