with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and no one would stay away from it except a hypocrite whose hypocrisy was known. A man would be brought, supported between two men, until he was made to stand in the row.” (1)

A man would be brought walking between two men until he was made to stand in the row. This indicates their concern for it, and that they regarded it as obligatory and held that it was not permissible to stay away from it.

Added to this are the benefits and advantages it contains, which indicate that wisdom dictates its being obligatory. Among them are:

1—Mutual affection among people, for people meeting one another and gathering behind one imam, in one act of worship and in one place, leads to familiarity and love.

2—Getting to know one another. Thus, when an unfamiliar man prays with people in the mosque, they ask about him: “Who is this? Who prayed with us?” In this way, they come to know one another. This acquaintance has a benefit: he may be a relative, in which case you must maintain ties with him in accordance with the degree of his kinship; or he may be a stranger to the town, or otherwise, so you fulfil his due right.

3—Manifesting one of the rites of Islam—indeed, one of its greatest rites: the prayer. For if people were to continue praying in their homes, it would not be known that there was any prayer.

4—Manifesting the honour and strength of the Muslims when they enter the mosques and then depart together in this gathering.