“I was about to order that the prayer be called, then command a man to lead the people in prayer, and then go with some men carrying bundles of firewood to people who do not attend the prayer, and burn their houses down over them.” (1)

He intended to do this, but he did not carry it out. What prevented him from doing so was not that the prayer was not obligatory; for if it had not been obligatory, it would not have been valid for him to utter such words, and this statement would have been meaningless and without benefit. Rather, what prevented him—and Allah knows best—was that none punishes with fire except the Lord of the Fire, exalted is He. Although Imam Ahmad narrated that he said: “...were it not for the women and children in them,” (2) this additional wording is weak, and we have no need of it. Rather, what prevented him was that none punishes with fire except Allah.

2—“A blind man asked his permission not to pray in the mosque. He said, ‘Can you hear the call to prayer?’ He replied, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘Then respond to it.’” (3)

3—The compilers of the Sunan reported that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever hears the call to prayer and does not respond to it has no prayer, except when he has an excuse.” (4)

4—As for the practice of the Companions, it is reported in Sahih Muslim from Ibn Masʿud, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said: “Indeed, we saw ourselves”—meaning, the Companions—