Chapter: The Obligation and Excellence of Congregational Prayer

Among the greatest emblems of Islam is the congregational prayer held in the mosque. The Muslims are unanimously agreed that performing the five daily prayers in the mosques is one of the most emphatic acts of obedience and loftiest means of drawing near to Allah—indeed, it is the greatest and most visible hallmark of Islam.

Allah has legislated for this community gatherings at set times. Some occur every day and night, such as the five daily prayers, for which Muslims assemble in the mosques five times within each twenty-four-hour cycle. Others take place once a week, like the gathering for the Friday prayer, which is larger than the gatherings for the daily prayers. Still others repeat twice a year, and these are larger than the Friday gathering in that the entire populace of a town is enjoined to come together. Finally, there is a gathering that occurs once a year—the standing at ʿArafah—which surpasses even the gatherings of the two Eids, for it is prescribed for Muslims the world over, wherever they may be.