Explaining the reason for the non-prescription of multiple congregations in a single mosque, and mentioning the evidence for the obligation of congregational prayer.
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The Shaykh : Then we find that the secret behind this ruling is a very great and significant matter; for when Allah (Mighty and Majestic) commanded the Muslims to establish prayer, He did not stop at that command alone, but added to it the command to establish it in congregation in the mosque. This is the saying of Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He): [Al-Baqarah 2:43], [Al-Baqarah 2:43] Pray with those who pray; that is, in congregation. This Qur'anic text establishes for us the obligation of congregational prayer, just as it establishes for us the obligation of establishing prayer and performing it with excellence, [Al-Baqarah 2:43].
Then the Sunnah comes and confirms the obligation of this congregational prayer with many hadiths, the most important of which is his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):; meaning the 'Isha' prayer. This hadith contains severe warning for those who delay congregational prayer in the mosque, naturally without a valid legal excuse. The magnitude or severity of this warning becomes apparent to you when you mention another similar hadith. This is in "al-Sahihayn" from the hadith of Abu Hurayrah regarding the warning against missing congregational prayer and specifically the 'Isha' prayer. There is also a hadith in "Sahih Muslim" from Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: . The point of both hadiths combined is that he threatened those who miss congregational prayer with the same threat he made for those who miss the Friday prayer.
And establish prayer and give zakah and bow with those who bow [in worship and obedience].
وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَارْكَعُوا مَعَ الرَّاكِعِينَand bow with those who bow [in worship and obedience].
وَارْكَعُوا مَعَ الرَّاكِعِينَAnd establish prayer and give zakah and bow with those who bow [in worship and obedience].
وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَارْكَعُوا مَعَ الرَّاكِعِينَThen the Sunnah comes and confirms the obligation of this congregational prayer with many hadiths, the most important of which is his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):
I was about to order a man to lead the people in prayer, then order men to gather firewood, then I would go to people who leave the prayer in congregation and burn their houses. By Him in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, if one of them knew that he would find two good pieces of firewood in the mosque, he would attend it.
لقد همَمْتُ أن آمُرَ رجلًا فيصلي بالناس ، ثم آمُرَ رجالًا فيحطبوا حطبًا ، ثم أخالِفَ إلى أناس يَدَعون الصلاة مع الجماعة فأحرِّق عليهم بيوتهم ، والذي نفس محمد بيده ؛ لو يعلم أحدهم أنه يجد في المسجد مرماتَين حَسَنَتَين لَشَهِدَهاI was about to burn the houses of those who miss the Friday prayer.
لقد هَمَمْتُ أن أحرِّقَ بيوت المتخلِّفين عن صلاة الجمعة
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.