❖ Instilling Love for Righteousness and Aversion to Sin Through Congregational Prayer ❖
Source: Fatawa Ulama-e-Hadith, Volume 09
Question
Is the prayer of someone who intentionally prays alone at home out of laziness not accepted?✔ Answer
When a mosque is nearby and the call to prayer (Adhān) can be heard, it becomes obligatory for a Muslim to attend the mosque and perform prayer in congregation. Performing prayer alone at home is not permissible, whether it is by one individual or more.If the mosque is far away and the Adhān cannot be heard, then there is no harm in offering congregational prayer at home.
✿ Common Misunderstandings
Some individuals neglect this obligation and are content with praying at home, basing their view on opinions of some scholars who suggest that the purpose of congregational prayer is simply for people to pray together, regardless of location.However, the correct and sound opinion is that congregational prayer must be observed in the mosque.
✦ Emphasis by the Prophet ﷺ
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:«وَلَقَدْ هَمَمْتُ أَنْ آمُرَ بِالصَّلَاةِ فَتُقَامَ ثُمَّ آمُرَ رَجُلًا فَيُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ ثُمَّ أَنْطَلِقَ بِرِجَالٍ مَعَهُمْ حُزَمٌ مِنْ حَطَبٍ إِلَى قَوْمٍ لَا يَشْهَدُونَ الصَّلَاةَ فَأُحَرِّقُ عَلَيْهِمْ بُيُوتَهُمْ بِالنَّارِ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 644, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 651)
"I considered ordering the prayer to be established, appointing someone to lead the people in it, then going myself with men carrying bundles of wood to burn down the homes of those who do not attend the congregational prayer."
✔ Conclusion
This Hadith clearly shows that even if someone offers prayer at home, he is still obligated to attend the mosque for congregational prayer—unless there is a genuine excuse such as distance or difficulty.وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ
