Adapted from the book “Namaz-e-Mustafa ﷺ” by Abu Hamzah Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi
﴿ وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَارْكَعُوا مَعَ الرَّاكِعِينَ ﴾
(Al-Baqarah: 43)
"Establish prayer, give Zakah, and bow with those who bow [in worship]."
The Salaf al-Salihīn and commentators of the Qur’an have explained that this verse pertains to congregational prayer.
❖ Every capable individual who hears the call to prayer is obligated to perform it in congregation. The Prophet ﷺ said:
«من سمع النداء فلم يأته، فلا صلاة له، إلا من عذر»
(Musnad Abu Ya‘la 2/281, Hadith 2426)
"Whoever hears the call to prayer but does not attend (the mosque), then there is no prayer for him—unless he has a valid excuse."
❖ Ibn ‘Abbas (RA) explained that the excuse refers to fear or illness.
(Sunan Ibn Majah 793; Sunan Daraqutni 1/420)
"Do you hear the call to prayer?"
He replied: "Yes."
The Prophet ﷺ then said: "Then respond to it."
(Sahih Muslim 653)
Other narrations say:
«ما أجد لك رخصة»
"I do not find any concession for you."
(Sunan Ibn Majah 792; Abu Dawood 552; Musnad Ahmad 3/423)
"باب وجوب صلاة الجماعة" – The Obligation of Congregational Prayer
He quoted Hasan al-Basri (RA):
"If a mother prevents her son from attending ‘Isha’ prayer in congregation out of compassion, he must not obey her."
He then mentioned the Hadith of Abu Hurairah (RA):
The Prophet ﷺ said he considered ordering homes of those who miss the congregational prayer to be burned.
(Sahih Bukhari 644)
Imam Dawud Raz (RA) notes: This Hadith demonstrates the extreme importance of congregational prayer. If it were not obligatory, such a threat would not be issued.
Imam al-Shawkani states:
«لو كانت سنة لم يهدد تاركها بالتحريق»
"Had it been only Sunnah, the threat of burning their houses would not have been made."
(Fath al-Bari Commentary)
«صلاة الجماعة تفضل صلاة الفذ بسبع وعشرين درجة»
"Congregational prayer is twenty-seven times superior to individual prayer."
(Sahih Bukhari 645)
Hafiz Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله said:
«فإن الصلاة في المسجد من أكبر شعائر الدين»
"Prayer in the mosque is among the greatest symbols of Islam."
(Kitab al-Salah, p. 105)
(Jilyat al-Awliya 2/162)
➤ Al-A‘mash: Reached 70 years of age and never missed the first Takbir.
(Siyar A‘lam al-Nubala 6/228)
➤ Al-Aswad: If he missed one congregation, he would go to another mosque.
(Sahih Bukhari)
➤ Anas ibn Malik (RA): Upon entering a mosque after prayer, he gave adhan again and prayed in congregation.
(Sahih Bukhari)
➤ Sa‘id ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz: Would weep if he missed a congregational prayer.
(Siyar A‘lam al-Nubala 8/34)
➤ ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (RA): If he missed ‘Isha congregation, he would worship the entire night.
(Siyar 3/215)
➤ Bishr al-Basri: Called “Ṣafi” because he prayed in the first row for 50 years straight in Basrah.
(Tahdhib al-Kamal 2/113)
"I considered ordering the call to prayer to be made, then appointing a man to lead the people in prayer, and then going to those who did not attend and burning their houses."
(Sahih Bukhari 607; Muslim 651)
He also said:
"If three Muslims live in a village or desert and do not establish congregational prayer, Satan overcomes them. Stick to the congregation, for the wolf devours the lone sheep."
(Sunan al-Nasa’i 848; Abu Dawood 547)
"When you hear the iqamah, walk to prayer with calmness and dignity. Pray what you catch, and complete what you miss."
(Sahih Bukhari 636; Muslim 603)
Remember: When one leaves their house for the mosque, they are headed to the majestic court of Allah, the All-Powerful, All-Knowing, and Most Forgiving. One should abandon worldly distractions and present oneself with full humility and focus.
Allah ﷻ states:
﴿ فِي بُيُوتٍ أَذِنَ اللَّهُ... ﴾ (An-Nur: 36-37)
"In houses which Allah has ordered to be raised... men whom neither trade nor sale distracts from the remembrance of Allah."
Approach the mosque with utmost reverence, serenity, and humility, as instructed by the Prophet ﷺ.
"One is considered in prayer from the moment they leave their home."
(Abu Dawood 562; Tirmidhi 386)
❖ Pray two rak‘at before sitting in the mosque:
(Sahih Bukhari 444)
❖ Do not prevent women from attending the mosque:
(Sahih Bukhari 5238; Muslim 987; Sunan al-Darimi 134)
❖ Women should not adorn themselves when going to the mosque:
(Sunan al-Darimi 1315; Abu Dawood 565)
✦ The Obligation of Congregational Prayer
Allah ﷻ commands:﴿ وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَارْكَعُوا مَعَ الرَّاكِعِينَ ﴾
(Al-Baqarah: 43)
"Establish prayer, give Zakah, and bow with those who bow [in worship]."
The Salaf al-Salihīn and commentators of the Qur’an have explained that this verse pertains to congregational prayer.
❖ Every capable individual who hears the call to prayer is obligated to perform it in congregation. The Prophet ﷺ said:
«من سمع النداء فلم يأته، فلا صلاة له، إلا من عذر»
(Musnad Abu Ya‘la 2/281, Hadith 2426)
"Whoever hears the call to prayer but does not attend (the mosque), then there is no prayer for him—unless he has a valid excuse."
❖ Ibn ‘Abbas (RA) explained that the excuse refers to fear or illness.
(Sunan Ibn Majah 793; Sunan Daraqutni 1/420)
✦ The Example of the Blind Man
A blind man asked the Prophet ﷺ for permission to pray at home, stating he had no one to guide him to the mosque. The Prophet ﷺ asked:"Do you hear the call to prayer?"
He replied: "Yes."
The Prophet ﷺ then said: "Then respond to it."
(Sahih Muslim 653)
Other narrations say:
«ما أجد لك رخصة»
"I do not find any concession for you."
(Sunan Ibn Majah 792; Abu Dawood 552; Musnad Ahmad 3/423)
✦ Imam al-Bukhari’s Chapter: The Obligation of Congregational Prayer
Imam al-Bukhari titled a chapter in his Sahih as:"باب وجوب صلاة الجماعة" – The Obligation of Congregational Prayer
He quoted Hasan al-Basri (RA):
"If a mother prevents her son from attending ‘Isha’ prayer in congregation out of compassion, he must not obey her."
He then mentioned the Hadith of Abu Hurairah (RA):
The Prophet ﷺ said he considered ordering homes of those who miss the congregational prayer to be burned.
(Sahih Bukhari 644)
Imam Dawud Raz (RA) notes: This Hadith demonstrates the extreme importance of congregational prayer. If it were not obligatory, such a threat would not be issued.
Imam al-Shawkani states:
«لو كانت سنة لم يهدد تاركها بالتحريق»
"Had it been only Sunnah, the threat of burning their houses would not have been made."
(Fath al-Bari Commentary)
✦ The Reward of Congregational Prayer
The Prophet ﷺ said:«صلاة الجماعة تفضل صلاة الفذ بسبع وعشرين درجة»
"Congregational prayer is twenty-seven times superior to individual prayer."
(Sahih Bukhari 645)
Hafiz Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله said:
«فإن الصلاة في المسجد من أكبر شعائر الدين»
"Prayer in the mosque is among the greatest symbols of Islam."
(Kitab al-Salah, p. 105)
✦ Zealous Examples from the Salaf
➤ Ibn al-Musayyib: Did not miss a single congregation for 40 years.(Jilyat al-Awliya 2/162)
➤ Al-A‘mash: Reached 70 years of age and never missed the first Takbir.
(Siyar A‘lam al-Nubala 6/228)
➤ Al-Aswad: If he missed one congregation, he would go to another mosque.
(Sahih Bukhari)
➤ Anas ibn Malik (RA): Upon entering a mosque after prayer, he gave adhan again and prayed in congregation.
(Sahih Bukhari)
➤ Sa‘id ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz: Would weep if he missed a congregational prayer.
(Siyar A‘lam al-Nubala 8/34)
➤ ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (RA): If he missed ‘Isha congregation, he would worship the entire night.
(Siyar 3/215)
➤ Bishr al-Basri: Called “Ṣafi” because he prayed in the first row for 50 years straight in Basrah.
(Tahdhib al-Kamal 2/113)
✦ Severe Warning Against Abandoning Congregation
The Prophet ﷺ said:"I considered ordering the call to prayer to be made, then appointing a man to lead the people in prayer, and then going to those who did not attend and burning their houses."
(Sahih Bukhari 607; Muslim 651)
He also said:
"If three Muslims live in a village or desert and do not establish congregational prayer, Satan overcomes them. Stick to the congregation, for the wolf devours the lone sheep."
(Sunan al-Nasa’i 848; Abu Dawood 547)
✦ Etiquettes of Going to the Mosque
The Prophet ﷺ said:"When you hear the iqamah, walk to prayer with calmness and dignity. Pray what you catch, and complete what you miss."
(Sahih Bukhari 636; Muslim 603)
Remember: When one leaves their house for the mosque, they are headed to the majestic court of Allah, the All-Powerful, All-Knowing, and Most Forgiving. One should abandon worldly distractions and present oneself with full humility and focus.
Allah ﷻ states:
﴿ فِي بُيُوتٍ أَذِنَ اللَّهُ... ﴾ (An-Nur: 36-37)
"In houses which Allah has ordered to be raised... men whom neither trade nor sale distracts from the remembrance of Allah."
Approach the mosque with utmost reverence, serenity, and humility, as instructed by the Prophet ﷺ.
✦ Additional Prophetic Guidance:
❖ Do not intertwine fingers when heading to the mosque:"One is considered in prayer from the moment they leave their home."
(Abu Dawood 562; Tirmidhi 386)
❖ Pray two rak‘at before sitting in the mosque:
(Sahih Bukhari 444)
❖ Do not prevent women from attending the mosque:
(Sahih Bukhari 5238; Muslim 987; Sunan al-Darimi 134)
❖ Women should not adorn themselves when going to the mosque:
(Sunan al-Darimi 1315; Abu Dawood 565)
