Servant of Allah
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Is Salah in the Masjid obligatory or Sunnah?
Is Salah in the Masjid obligatory or Sunnah?
- Thread starter Servant of Allah
- Start date
Praying the obligatory prayers in the Masjid is obligatory for men, unless a person has a valid excuse such as illness, severe hardship, fear, or similar legitimate reasons mentioned by the scholars.
This ruling is based on clear and authentic evidences from the Sunnah.
Evidence from the Sunnah
1. Severe Warning for Missing the Congregational Prayer
The Prophet ﷺ said:
Arabic:
وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَقَدْ هَمَمْتُ أَنْ آمُرَ بِحَطَبٍ فَيُحْطَبَ، ثُمَّ آمُرَ بِالصَّلَاةِ فَيُؤَذَّنَ لَهَا، ثُمَّ آمُرَ رَجُلًا فَيَؤُمَّ النَّاسَ، ثُمَّ أُخَالِفَ إِلَى رِجَالٍ فَأُحَرِّقَ عَلَيْهِمْ بُيُوتَهُمْ، وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَوْ يَعْلَمُ أَحَدُهُمْ أَنَّهُ يَجِدُ عَرْقًا سَمِينًا أَوْ مِرْمَاتَيْنِ حَسَنَتَيْنِ لَشَهِدَ الْعِشَاءَ.
Translation:
"By Him in Whose Hand is my soul, I was about to order for firewood to be collected, then order that the call to prayer be given, then appoint a man to lead the people, then go to the men who do not attend the prayer and burn their houses over them. By Him in Whose Hand is my soul, if one of them knew that he would find a meaty bone or two good hooves, he would certainly attend the Isha prayer."
Reference: Sahih al Bukhari: 644
This hadith shows the obligation of praying in congregation, because the Prophet ﷺ would never threaten with such a punishment for leaving something that is merely Sunnah.
Statement of the Salaf
Al Hasan al Basri رحمه الله said:
Arabic:
إِنْ مَنَعَتْهُ أُمُّهُ عَنِ الْعِشَاءِ فِي الْجَمَاعَةِ شَفَقَةً لَمْ يُطِعْهَا.
Translation:
"If his mother prevents him from attending the Isha prayer in congregation out of compassion, he should not obey her."
Reference: Sahih al Bukhari: Q644
This shows how strongly the early scholars viewed the obligation of praying in congregation in the Masjid.
