The Significance of Prayer in the Mosque
Prayer is an act of worship mandated by Allah (Exalted be He), who has promised immense rewards and blessings for those who engage in it. Congregational prayer is a strongly recommended Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), symbolizing the unity and dignity of the Muslim Ummah, as well as their collective submission to the oneness of Allah.
Hadiths on the Virtues of Congregational Prayer
The merits of performing prayers in congregation are profound, as emphasized by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in various Hadiths, including:
- The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “The superiority of the congregation over an individual’s prayer is twenty-five times greater.”
- He also stated: “The prayer in congregation is twenty-seven times more rewarding than praying alone.”
- He remarked: “A prayer in my mosque is better than a thousand prayers in other locations, except for Al-Masjid Al-Haram, where a prayer is superior to one hundred thousand prayers elsewhere.”
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) warned: “In a village or desert region where the prayer is not established, the devil dominates them. Therefore, adhere to the congregation, as the wolf devours the isolated sheep.”
- Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “Whoever desires to meet Allah tomorrow as a Muslim should consistently attend these prayers wherever they are called. Allah has legislated guidance for your Prophet (peace be upon him), and these are among the practices of guidance. If you pray in your homes as this negligent person does, you would abandon the Sunnah of your Prophet, and abandoning his Sunnah will lead you astray. No man purifies himself excellently and then goes to one of these mosques without earning a good deed for every step he takes, his rank being elevated and his sins being forgiven. Indeed, I have witnessed only hypocrites known for their hypocrisy not attending these prayers, and men would be brought in between two others to stand in the row.”
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned: “Whoever leaves his home in a state of purity to attend a prescribed prayer receives a reward equivalent to that of a pilgrim in a state of ihram, and whoever sets out for the Sunnah prayers is rewarded as if he were performing Umrah. A prayer following another prayer with no idle talk in between is recorded in the highest ranks (Al-‘Illiyyin).”
- Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that a blind man came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said, “O Messenger of Allah, I have no guide to take me to the mosque.” The Prophet permitted him to pray at home. However, as he turned to leave, he called him back and asked, “Can you hear the call to prayer?” The man replied, “Yes.” The Prophet instructed him, “Then respond to it.”
- Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) recounted: “We observed that only known hypocrites neglected the prayer, or someone ill. The sick would walk between two men until they reached the prayer. He said: ‘The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) taught us the practices of guidance, and among these is praying in the mosque where the call to prayer is made.’
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever performs ablution well and then proceeds to the obligatory prayer to pray with the people or in the mosque, Allah will forgive his sins.”
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) expressed: “I had the intention of commanding that the prayer be established, then I would go to the homes of those who do not attend the prayer and burn them down.”
The Merits of Congregational Prayer
The benefits of congregational prayer are numerous and significant. Among them are:
- Walking to the congregational prayer expiates sins and raises one’s status.
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) provides glad tidings to those who walk to the mosque.
- Allah has prepared special hospitality and bliss in Paradise for those who go to the mosque. The Prophet (peace be upon him) stated: “Whoever goes to the mosque in the morning or evening, Allah prepares for him a welcoming abode in Paradise whenever he goes or returns.”
- The footprints of those going to the mosque are recorded as good deeds in their balance of good actions.