The Book of Mosques and Places of Prayer

Sahih Muslim - Hadith 649 d

Hadith Text

Prayer said in a congregation is equivalent to twenty-five (prayers) as compared with the prayer said by a single person.

Commentary

This noble hadith establishes the immense virtue of congregational prayer (salat al-jama'ah). The Prophet (peace be upon him) informs us that the reward for praying in congregation is multiplied twenty-five times over praying alone. This multiplication applies to the obligatory (fard) prayers.

The wisdom behind this great reward lies in the collective manifestation of worship, the public display of Islamic unity, the mutual encouragement in piety, and the strengthening of communal bonds among Muslims. It demonstrates the social dimension of Islam where believers stand shoulder to shoulder, rich and poor alike, before their Lord.

Scholars explain that this multiplication applies specifically to the five daily prayers in the mosque. The number twenty-five signifies completeness and abundance in divine reward, not merely a mathematical calculation. This tremendous incentive should motivate every able Muslim to prioritize congregational prayer and experience its spiritual and communal blessings.