The Ruling on Abandoning the Congregational Prayer

Question:
This sister who is asking sent a question written in her own style. She mentions that she is married to a man who says he is careful to attend the Friday prayer in the mosque only. As for the other prayers, he prays them at home at their times. She advises him a lot, and he says, "Praise be to Allah, the reward is complete." Does he have the same reward as the congregation in the mosque, Honorable Shaykh?

Answer:
It is not permissible for him to leave the congregational prayer without an excuse, based on the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) and his description of those who miss the congregational prayer without an excuse as hypocrites. The one who leaves the congregational prayer without an excuse is a hypocrite. Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "I have seen us, and none of us would miss it except a known hypocrite, one whose hypocrisy was well known."
And his saying that "the reward is complete" is a mistake. The reward is not complete; rather, he is leaving a great obligatory duty and commits a sin by leaving it. You should advise him and be strict with him, so that perhaps he will repent and be careful to attend the congregational prayer. Yes.