are among the practices that lead to right guidance. Allah has prescribed for your Prophet the practices that lead to right guidance. If you were to pray in your homes as this man who stays away prays in his home, you would abandon your Prophet’s sunnah; and if you abandoned your Prophet’s sunnah, you would go astray. No one stays away from them except a known hypocrite. Indeed, a man would be brought in, supported between other men, until he was placed in the row.”

In the Sahīh, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, is reported to have said:

“I have indeed considered ordering that the prayer be commenced, then setting out with men carrying bundles of firewood to people who do not attend the prayer, and burning their houses down upon them.”

In Sahīh Muslim, Abū Hurayrah reported:

“A blind man came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, I have no guide to lead me to the mosque.’ He asked him for permission to pray at home, and he granted him permission. When the man turned to leave, he called him back and asked, ‘Do you hear the call to prayer?’ He replied, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘Then respond.’”

In one narration in the Sunan, he asked, “Do you hear the call?” He replied, “Yes.” He said, “I can find no concession for you.”

In the Sunan, Ibn ‘Abbās reported:

“The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ‘Whoever hears the call and is not prevented from answering it by an excuse’—they asked, ‘What is an excuse?’ and he replied, ‘Fear or illness’—‘the prayer he offers will not be accepted.’”

Reported by Abū Dāwūd.

All Muslims agree that congregational prayer is strongly emphasized in the religion.