The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The prayer offered in congregation is twenty five times more superior (in reward) to the prayer offered alone in one's house or in a business center, because if one performs ablution and does it perfectly, and then proceeds to the mosque with the sole intention of praying, then for each step which he takes towards the mosque, Allah upgrades him a degree in reward and (forgives) crosses out one sin till he enters the mosque. When he enters the mosque he is considered in prayer as long as he is waiting for the prayer and the angels keep on asking for Allah's forgiveness for him and they keep on saying: 'O Allah! Be Merciful to him, O Allah! Forgive him, as long as he keeps on sitting at his praying place and does not pass wind. (See Hadith No. 620).
The Superiority of Congregational Prayer
The noble hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari 477 establishes the immense virtue of performing prayers in congregation. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) explicitly states that congregational prayer carries twenty-five times greater reward than prayer performed individually. This multiplication applies whether one prays alone at home or in a marketplace, emphasizing that the congregational setting itself brings exceptional divine favor.
Spiritual Journey to the Mosque
The hadith outlines a spiritual progression beginning with proper ablution (wudu). When a believer perfects their purification and sets out for the mosque with sincere intention purely for prayer, each step taken toward the mosque becomes an act of worship. For every step, Allah elevates the person's spiritual rank and erases one of their sins. This continues until they enter the mosque premises.
Continuous Reward in Anticipation
Upon entering the mosque, the believer remains in a state of prayerful waiting (i'tikaf) as long as they maintain their position awaiting the formal prayer. During this time, angels continuously seek Allah's mercy and forgiveness for them, praying: "O Allah! Be Merciful to him, O Allah! Forgive him." This divine intercession continues provided the person remains seated in their prayer spot and does not invalidate their ritual purity.
Scholarly Commentary
Classical scholars explain that the twenty-five-fold reward demonstrates Allah's boundless generosity. The journey to the mosque transforms ordinary walking into worship, while the angels' prayers highlight the spiritual atmosphere of mosques. The condition about maintaining purity underscores the importance of preserving one's state of worship. This hadith collectively encourages Muslims to prioritize congregational prayers, perfect their ablution, and frequent mosques to attain these multiple spiritual benefits.