while he was healthy and resident.”

Thus, whoever is firmly resolved to perform the prayer with the congregation, yet a legitimate shar‘i excuse prevents him, is regarded as though he had joined the congregation, thanks to his righteous intention.

The second case concerns the one who stays away from the congregational prayer without any excuse. If he prays alone, his prayer is valid according to the majority of scholars, but he forfeits an immense reward: the congregational prayer exceeds the prayer of an individual by twenty-seven degrees, and he also loses the reward for every step he would have taken to the mosque. Along with this loss, he bears a grave sin, for he has abandoned an obligation without excuse and has committed a wrongdoing that must be denounced; the ruler is required to discipline him until he returns to sound conduct.

O Muslim, the proper place for the congregational prayer is the mosque, so that the emblem of Islam may be visibly upheld. The mosques were only legislated to be built for this purpose, and holding the congregation elsewhere undermines that objective.

Allah the Exalted says: “In houses which Allah has allowed to be raised and wherein His name is remembered, there glorify Him morning and evening men whom neither trade nor sale distracts from the remembrance of Allah, from establishing the prayer, and from giving the zakah; they fear a Day on which hearts and eyes will turn about.” (Quran 24:36-37)

And He says: “The only people who maintain the mosques of Allah are those who believe in Allah and the Last Day and establish the prayer.” (Quran 9:18)

These two noble verses exalt the mosques and their devotees and promise them abundant reward, while implicitly censuring those who neglect to attend the prayers in them.