SECTION ON PRAYER · 47 – The Sin of Abandoning the Congregation
Abū ad-Dardā (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) say: “If three people from among those who live in a village or the desert do not pray together in congregation, then Shayṭān has overcome them. Adhere to the congregation, for the wolf only eats the sheep that strays from the flock.”
Zayd said: By ‘congregation,’ is meant praying in congregation.
Abū Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated:
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, commanded that the call to prayer be made and that another person lead the prayer, then he said, “I considered bringing men bearing bundles of firewood to a people who do not attend the prayer, and setting their homes ablaze while they were in them.”
Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “I considered ordering young men to gather a pile of wood, then going to those who neglect prayer at home without excuse and burning their homes.”
Yazid ibn Asam said: I asked, "O Messenger of Allah, do you mean the Friday prayer or another [prayer]?" He said, "Indeed." And I, Yazid ibn Yazid, have not heard my ears hear Abu Hurayrah narrate this from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, except that he mentioned neither Friday nor other [prayers].”
Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, may Allah be pleased with him, related:
He said: Continue to pray in congregation wherever the adhan (call to prayer) is recited for these five daily prayers; praying them in congregation is part of the Sunnah of God. Indeed, Allah, exalted and glorified be He, made the Sunnah of God the Sharīʿah (divine law) for His Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. I have not seen anyone from among the openly hypocritical abstain from the congregation, except those amongst us. I have seen one who was unable to reach the ranks without the help of two men, being brought between them. There is no one among you who does not have a mosque near his home; if you abandon mosques and pray in your homes, you will have abandoned the Sunnah of your Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. And if you abandon the Sunnah of your Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, you will surely have been ungrateful. [361]
It is narrated from Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, said:
“Whoever hears the call to prayer (adhan) and does not follow it with an excuse preventing him, his prayer performed alone will not be accepted.”
The companions asked, “What is an excuse?”
The Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, said: “Fear or illness.”
Abu Dawud said:
Abu Ishaq narrated from Migra.
It is narrated from Ummu Maktum, may Allah be pleased with her: She asked the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, "O Messenger of Allah! I am a man whose home is far away, and I have no servant to guide me (out). Is there dispensation for me to pray in my house?"
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Do you hear the call to prayer?”
Ummu Maktum replied, "Yes." The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “I cannot find dispensation for you (to pray) in your home.”
EXPLANATION
*Shasi’u’d-Dar:* Means one whose home is far.
From Ummu Maktum, may Allah be pleased with her:
"Messenger of Allah, surely Medina is a place abundant in wild beasts and stinging insects. (And I am one who cannot see.)"
He ﷺ said, “Do you hear ‘Rise for prayer’ and ‘Rise for success’? Then rise for the congregation.”
Abu Dawud said: Qasim al-Jarmi narrated this hadith from Sufyan in this manner. But the narration does not contain the phrase "rise for the congregation."