This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Abu Hamza Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi's book Sahih Fazail-e-Amaal.
In Islam, collectivism holds great importance, and its manifestation can also be seen in the times of prayer. Prayer is the second major pillar in Islam, but in its performance, Shariah has also provided guidance on how and at which places it should be performed. For this collective life, brotherhood, and the establishment of mutual connection and relationship among Muslims, Shariah has commanded that prayers be performed collectively under the leadership of an Imam. Numerous virtues have also been mentioned in this regard:
﴿وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَارْكَعُوا مَعَ الرَّاكِعِينَ﴾
"Establish prayer, give zakah, and bow with those who bow."
Reference: (2-Al-Baqarah:43)
The honorable commentators have written in the interpretation of the mentioned verse:
"It commands performing prayer in congregation."
عن أبى الدرداء رضى الله عنه قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: ما من ثلاثة فى قرية ولا بدو لا تقام فيهم الصلاة إلا قد استحوذ عليهم الشيطان، فعليك بالجماعة، فإنما يأكل الذئب القاصية.
It is narrated from Sayyidina Abu Darda (may Allah be pleased with him) that I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say: "If there are three people in a village or forest among whom congregational prayer is not established, then surely Satan has prevailed over them. So hold firmly to the congregation, for indeed the wolf eats the sheep that stays away from the flock."
The narrator of the hadith, Al-Saib, says:
"In the hadith, congregation means the congregation of prayer."
Reference: Sunan Abu Dawood, Book of Prayer, Hadith No: 547.
Al-Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) graded it as Hasan.عن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: صلاة الجماعة أفضل من صلاة الفذ بسبع وعشرين درجة.
It is narrated from Sayyidina Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with both of them) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Prayer in congregation is twenty-seven times more rewarding than prayer performed alone."
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Adhan, Chapter on the Virtue of Congregational Prayer, Hadith No: 645. Sahih Muslim, Book of Mosques, Chapter on the Virtue of Congregational Prayer, Hadith No: 650.
It is narrated from Sayyidina Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
من صلى لله أربعين يوما فى جماعة يدرك التكبيرة الأولى كتب له براءتان: براءة من النار، وبراءة من النفاق.
"Whoever prays forty days in congregation with the first Takbir, two summaries are written for him: one summary of salvation from the fire, and the other from hypocrisy."
Reference: Sunan Tirmidhi, Book of Prayer, Chapter on the Virtue of the First Takbir, Hadith No: 241. Silsilat al-Sahihah, No: 2652.
Sayyidina Abdullah bin Umm Maktum (may Allah be pleased with him), a blind companion of the Messenger (peace be upon him), asked permission to pray at home due to his blindness, but the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
هل تسمع النداء بالصلاة؟ فقال: نعم. قال: فأجب.
"Do you hear the Adhan?" Abdullah said: Yes. Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Then attend the prayer."
Reference: Sahih Muslim, Book of Mosques, Chapter on the Obligation to Attend the Mosque, Hadith No: 653
Sayyidina Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
لقد رأيتنا وما يتخلف عنها إلا منافق معلوم النفاق. ولقد كان الرجل يؤتى به يهادى بين الرجلين، حتى يقام فى الصف.
During the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him), I saw that the hypocrite who was known to all for his hypocrisy was the one who stayed behind from the prayer
