Hadith 1426

It is narrated from Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: "We used to think that only a known hypocrite or a sick person would miss the prayer. Even the sick person would walk supported by two men to attend the prayer." He also said: "The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) taught us the ways of guidance, and among the ways of guidance is to pray in the mosque where the call to prayer is made." In another narration, he said: "Whoever would be pleased to meet Allah as a Muslim, let him take care of these five prayers when they are called, for Allah has prescribed for your Prophet the ways of guidance, and these prayers are among the ways of guidance. If you were to pray in your homes as this person who stays behind prays in his home, you would be abandoning the Sunnah of your Prophet. If you abandon the Sunnah of your Prophet, you will go astray. There is no man who purifies himself and performs his purification well, then heads to one of these mosques, except that Allah writes for him a good deed for every step he takes, raises him a degree, and removes a sin from him. We used to see that only a known hypocrite would miss the prayer, and a man would be brought supported by two men until he was placed in the row."