12 Reasons Why We Should Pray in Congregation

1. Mosques are the most lovable places on earth to Allah. The Prophet (PBUH) said: "The best water on earth is the water of Zamzam and the best places on earth are Mosques." Narrated by Abdul Razzaq.
2. Mosques are meant to be alive with people remembering Allah through prayers, zikr and recitation of the Holy Qur'an.  Allah said: "Within houses of worship which God has decreed to be raised and for His name to be ever remembered in them; giving due exaltation to Him therein-in the early mornings and late afternoons- are men whom neither commerce nor selling diverts from the remembrance of God or (from) the establishment of the prayer or the giving of Zakah}, An-Nour 36-37.
    
3. Allah urged us to pray Jama'a, and the true believer is the one who responds to the call from Allah.  Allah said: "Rather you shall (duly) establish the prayer and you shall give the charity and you shall bow (to God in prayer) along with those who bow to Him." Al Baqarah, 43. The reference was (along with those) as a group.
    
4. Allah witnessed of the faith and guidance of those who pray Jama'a in the Mosques. Allah said: "Indeed, the only ones worthy of maintaining services in the mosques of God are those who believe in God and (in the coming judgment of) the last Day, and who (duly) establish the prayer and give charity and who fear none but God, whereof it may be that these shall be among (rightly) guided." At-Tawbah, 18.
    
5. The ones who regularly pray Jama'a and whose hearts are attached to the Mosques are under the shade (protection) of Allah on the Day of Judgment. The Prophet (PBUH) said: "Seven are shaded under the shade of Allah on the Day of Judgment," and he named of those seven, "a man whose heart is attached to the Mosques."  Narrated by Bukhari.
    
6. Allah made attending the Mosques one of the reasons for your sins to be cleared. The Prophet (PBUH) said: "Shall I tell you about things you can do for Allah to erase your sins and raise your levels?" They said: "Yes O Prophet of Allah!" He said: "Performing full ablution even during harsh conditions, many steps to the Mosques, and waiting for Salah after Salah. That is the Ribat (act of Jihad effort), that is the Ribat, that is the Ribat." Narrated by Muslim.
    
7. The Prophet (PBUH) gave glad tidings to those who walk to the Mosques in the darkness of night that they will enjoy the full light on the Day of Judgment.
   Narrated by Abu Daoud.
    
8. The ones who pray in the Mosques are guests of Allah, and it is a duty of the Host to honor His visitors. The Prophet (PBUH) said: "Whoever cleansed himself at home and perfected his ablution and then came to the Mosque is a visitor to Allah, and it is a duty on the host to honor his guests."  Shoab El Iman.
9. Allah is pleased when people come to Mosques to pray. The Prophet (PBUH) said: "Allah will welcome with happiness someone who makes ablution, perfects it and comes to the Mosque, the way the family of someone traveling would welcome him when he returns."  Narrated by Ibn Majah.
    
10. Praying in Mosques is rewarded more than praying at home. The Prophet (PBUH) said: "Praying in a group is better (in rewards) than praying alone by 27 times." 
    Narrated by Bukhari
     
11. Glad tidings were given by the Prophet (PBUH) for those who attend prayer in Mosques for forty days. The Prophet (PBUH) said: "Whoever prays to Allah for forty days in congregation, being present at time of Takbeeratul Ihram (saying Allahu Akbar when beginning prayer), it will be documented for him to be saved from hell and saved from being a hypocrite."  Narrated by Tirmizi.
     
12. The Prophet (PBUH) was serious in threatening those who boycott Jama'a at Mosques (also reflecting a change of loyalty). The Prophet (PBUH) said: "By the One whom my soul is in His Hand, I thought about when the prayer is called, to assign someone as imam, and I would go to the men never witnessing (attending) prayer in Jama'a with us to burn their houses on them."  Narrated by Bukhari.

O servants of Allah, answer the call of righteousness and book for yourselves a share from such rewards. The great Tabiei (second generation of believers after the Sahabah) Imam Saied, son of Musayyab said: "For thirty years, never did the Mu'azzin (caller for prayer) call for prayer that I wasn't in the Mosque." Also, Suleiman, son of Mahran used to say to his daughter while she cried over his sickness of death: "Cry or don't cry, by Allah I never missed the first Takbeerah of prayer in Jama'a for the past sixty years."

Sh. Kifah Mustapha