Nasai

840. Commentary: In congregational prayer, the worshipper has to perform many additional actions. More time is also spent. There are more opportunities for good deeds, which is why congregational prayer is far superior to individual prayer. In most narrations, there is mention of twenty-five degrees, while in some narrations, twenty-seven degrees are also mentioned. Some scholars have given preference to twenty-five because the lesser number is more certain, and the greater is subject to difference. Some scholars are of the opinion that both numbers indicate abundance, not a specific number. Some have explained the difference between silent (sirrī) and audible (jahrī) prayers, i.e., the silent prayer is twenty-five degrees superior, and the audible prayer is twenty-seven degrees superior, because in the audible prayer, the follower has to do two additional things: say "Ameen" aloud and listen to the recitation. All prayers performed alone are silent. In any case, the truth is that there is no explicit, authentic evidence transmitted regarding this, due to which no reliable or authoritative statement or interpretation can be made; therefore, the reality of this is best known to Allah, the Exalted. (For further details, see Hadith: 487)