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أَخْبَرَنَا سُوَيْدُ بْنُ نَصْرٍ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ، عَنِ الْمَسْعُودِيِّ، عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الأَقْمَرِ، عَنْ أَبِي الأَحْوَصِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَقُولُ مَنْ سَرَّهُ أَنْ يَلْقَى اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ غَدًا مُسْلِمًا فَلْيُحَافِظْ عَلَى هَؤُلاَءِ الصَّلَوَاتِ الْخَمْسِ حَيْثُ يُنَادَى بِهِنَّ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ شَرَعَ لِنَبِيِّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم سُنَنَ الْهُدَى وَإِنَّهُنَّ مِنْ سُنَنِ الْهُدَى وَإِنِّي لاَ أَحْسَبُ مِنْكُمْ أَحَدًا إِلاَّ لَهُ مَسْجِدٌ يُصَلِّي فِيهِ فِي بَيْتِهِ فَلَوْ صَلَّيْتُمْ فِي بُيُوتِكُمْ وَتَرَكْتُمْ مَسَاجِدَكُمْ لَتَرَكْتُمْ سُنَّةَ نَبِيِّكُمْ وَلَوْ تَرَكْتُمْ سُنَّةَ نَبِيِّكُمْ لَضَلَلْتُمْ وَمَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ مُسْلِمٍ يَتَوَضَّأُ فَيُحْسِنُ الْوُضُوءَ ثُمَّ يَمْشِي إِلَى صَلاَةٍ إِلاَّ كَتَبَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَهُ بِكُلِّ خُطْوَةٍ يَخْطُوهَا حَسَنَةً أَوْ يَرْفَعُ لَهُ بِهَا دَرَجَةً أَوْ يُكَفِّرُ عَنْهُ بِهَا خَطِيئَةً وَلَقَدْ رَأَيْتُنَا نُقَارِبُ بَيْنَ الْخُطَا وَلَقَدْ رَأَيْتُنَا وَمَا يَتَخَلَّفُ عَنْهَا إِلاَّ مُنَافِقٌ مَعْلُومٌ نِفَاقُهُ وَلَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ الرَّجُلَ يُهَادَى بَيْنَ الرَّجُلَيْنِ حَتَّى يُقَامَ فِي الصَّفِّ ‏.‏
Translation
It was narrated that 'Abdullah said

"Whoever would like to meet Allah tomorrow as a Muslim, let him regularly attend these five (daily) prayers whenever the call for them is given (that in the mosques), for Allah prescribed forHis Prophet the ways of guidance, and they (the prayers) are part of those ways of guidance. I do not think that there is anyone among you who does not have a place where he prays in his house. But if you were to pray in your houses and forsake the Masjids, you would be forsaking the Sunnah of your Prophet, and if you were to forsake the Sunnah of yourProphet you would go astray. There is no Muslim slave who performs Wudu and does it well, then walks to the prayer, but Allah will record one Hasanah (gooddeed) for each step he takes, or raise' him one level by it or erase one sin from him. I remember how we used to take short steps, and I remember (a time) when no one stayed behind from the prayer excepta hypocrite whose hypocrisy was well known. And I have seen a man coming Supported by two others until he would be made to stand in the row."

Comment

The Book of Leading the Prayer (Al-Imamah)

Sunan an-Nasa'i 849

Hadith Commentary

This profound narration emphasizes the obligatory nature of congregational prayers in the mosque. The statement "meet Allah tomorrow as a Muslim" indicates that preserving one's Islam depends upon maintaining the five daily prayers in congregation.

The phrase "ways of guidance" refers to the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), wherein congregational prayer stands as a fundamental pillar. Abandoning mosque prayers constitutes abandoning the Prophetic tradition, which leads to spiritual deviation.

The spiritual rewards mentioned - good deeds recorded, spiritual elevation, and sins forgiven - demonstrate Allah's immense mercy for those who strive to attend congregational prayers. The description of people being supported to reach the mosque illustrates the great virtue of this practice, even in difficulty.

The mention of hypocrites avoiding prayer serves as a severe warning, showing that consistent absence from congregational prayer was considered a sign of hypocrisy during the Prophet's time.