The Ruling on Congregational Prayer and the Indication of Building Mosques for It

Question:
He says: We heard from one of the preachers on one of the channels that he said, “Congregational prayer is a recommended practice (sunnah).” Another questioner called him and said, “If so, why were mosques built?” He replied, “For those who wish to pray in them.”

Answer:
If congregational prayer were merely a recommended practice (sunnah), then praying in one’s home would be better. Praying in one’s home is better for the recommended practices (sunnah) and voluntary prayers. Therefore, the building of mosques indicates that congregational prayer is obligatory.
Because people were not left in their homes; rather, mosques were built for them, and they were called to prayer: “Come to prayer, come to success.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: . He (peace and blessings be upon him) intended to burn the houses of those who lagged behind in prayer with fire, and he described them as hypocrites. Ahh. This indicates that congregational prayer is obligatory.
For the one who abandons a voluntary prayer or a recommended act is not called a hypocrite, nor does he deserve punishment. One does not deserve punishment except for abandoning an obligatory act. The one who denies the prayer without an excuse has no prayer, except for one with an excuse. If congregational prayer were not obligatory, the prayer would not have been denied for him. So he said: . Thus, congregational prayer is not a sunnah in the sense of being recommended or encouraged, but it is obligatory. Unless he means sunnah in the sense of the Sunnah of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). Yes, the Sunnah of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is to pray in the mosques, and the Sunnah of the hypocrites is to lag behind in the mosques. Yes.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you