Why is it better to pray in the nearby mosque?

The questioner : The Shaykh said in the previous lesson that one should pray in the nearby mosque.

The Shaykh : Yes, yes, it is better to pray in the mosque of one’s neighborhood.

The questioner : Yes, so that there is nothing in the heart of the mosque’s imam. Now, if one fears for the intention that there might be something, if one fears for the intention that there might be something, that the direction toward the mosque is for the sake of the imam, for the sake of the imam seeing that he prayed with him,

The Shaykh : No, no, no, it is not for the sake of being watched while praying; that would be showing off (riya’). But it is for the sake of reconciliation, so that there is nothing in the imam’s heart. There is nothing in his heart against him because he did not pray, no, because he might say that he did not pray with him because, for example, he does not consider him worthy of being an imam, or because of something in the religion, and he harbors resentment against him.