Others held that it must be performed in the mosque by everyone upon whom it is obligatory.

As for those who held that it is a collective obligation, they said: It is one of the manifest symbols of Islam, and Muslims have always established it in the mosques. Were the mosques to be left vacant, it would not be apparent that this land was a land of Islam. Just as the call to prayer is one of the manifest symbols of Islam—and a group is fought if they do not give the call to prayer—while it is a collective obligation, so too is prayer in the mosques. Thus, if enough people pray in the mosque to fulfil the collective obligation, the rest may pray in their homes.

As for those who held that it is obligatory in the mosque, they cited the Prophet’s statement, peace and blessings be upon him: “I was about to order that the prayer be called, then order a man to lead the people in prayer, then go to some people who do not attend the prayer and burn their houses down upon them with fire.” (1) The word “people” is a plural term by which a congregation is constituted. Had it been possible for them to pray in congregation in their homes, he would have said, “Except if they pray in their homes,” and would have exempted whoever prayed in his home. This shows that one must attend the congregation of the Muslims.

This view is correct: it is obligatory that it be in the mosque. If it is established elsewhere, establishing it does not lift the sin; rather, they are sinful, even though the stronger view is that the prayer is valid.

As for those who say that it is one of the manifest symbols of Islam, we say: It is indeed one of the manifest symbols of Islam, and part of fully upholding this is that it be made obligatory upon every