These two prayers are the most burdensome of all prayers for the hypocrites. If you knew what they contain, you would come to them, even if you had to crawl on your knees
’Ubayy ibn Ka‘b (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) led us in the Fajr prayer one day and said: "Is so-and-so present?" They replied: 'No.' He said: "Is so-and-so present?" They replied: 'No.' Thereupon, he said: "These two prayers are the most burdensome of all prayers for the hypocrites. If you knew what they contain, you would come to them, even if you had to crawl on your knees. The first row is like that of the angels, and if you knew the nature of its excellence, you would race to join it. A man's prayer with another man is purer than his prayer alone, and his prayer with two men is purer than his prayer with one man; the greater the number, the more pleasing it is to Allah Almighty."
Reported by Abu Dawud (No. 554), An-Nasa’i (No. 843), Ahmad (No. 20311, 20312) and Ad-Darimi (No. 1241).
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) offered the Fajr prayer one day and then asked: Is so-and-so attending this prayer of ours? The Companions replied: No! Then he said: Is so-and-so present? Another person. They said: No! So, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: Indeed, the Fajr and ‘Ishā’ prayers are the most burdensome of all prayers for the hypocrites, as people are mostly lazy at their time and they have little chance of Riyā’ (show-off), for they are not seen in darkness.
If you, O believers, knew the additional reward and recompense that results from the Fajr and ‘Ishā’ prayers - as the amount of reward depends on the amount of difficulty - you would come to them, even if you had to crawl on your hands and knees.
The first row, in terms of their closeness to the Imām, is like the row of angels in terms of their closeness to Allah Almighty. If the believers knew the merit of the first row, they would race to join it. And indeed, a man's prayer with another man brings more reward and impact than his prayer alone, and his prayer with two men is better than his prayer with one man. A prayer attended by a lot of worshippers is more rewarding and pleasing to Allah.
Lessons
It is prescribed for the Imām of the mosque to check on the conditions of the worshippers and ask about those who are absent.
Regular performance of prayer in congregation, especially the ‘Ishā’ and Fajr prayers, is among the signs of Imān.
The Hadīth highlights the great reward of the ‘Ishā’ and Fajr prayers, as coming to them requires self-struggle and persistence in worship. Hence, their reward is greater than other prayers.
Congregational prayer is valid if two or more persons attend it.
It demonstrates the merit of the first row and encourages us to hasten to join it.
It shows the excellence of a congregational prayer attended by a lot of people and that the greater the number, the more the reward.
Righteous deeds vary in their merit depending on how they are preferred by the Shariah and on their distinct conditions.
Explanation in Arabic
صَلَّى النبيُّ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يومًا الفجر، ثم سأل: أحاضر فلان صلاتنا هذه؟
قال الصحابة: لا.
ثم قال: أحاضر فلان؟ لشخص آخر،
قالوا: لا.
قال صلى الله عليه وسلم:
إنّ صلاة الفجر والعشاء أثقل الصلوات على المنافقين؛ لغَلَبة الكسل فيهما، ولقلة تحصيل الرياء لهما، حيث لا يُرون في الظلام.
ولو تعلمون أيها المؤمنون ما في صلاتي الصبح والعشاء من الأجر والثواب الزائد -لأن الأجر على قدر المشقة- لأتيتموهما ولو زحفًا ومشيًا على الأيدي والركب.
وإن الصف الأول في قربهم من الإمام كمثل صف الملائكة في قربهم من الله تعالى، ولو يعلم المؤمنون ما فضيلة الصف الأول لتسابقوا إليه،
وإن صلاة الرجل مع الرجل أعظم ثوابًا وأثرًا من صلاته وحده، وصلاته مع الرجلين أفضل مع الرجل الواحد،
والصلاة التي كثر المصلون فيها فهي أحب إلى الله وأفضل.
مشروعية تَفقُد إمام المسجد أحوال المأمومين، والسؤال عمن غَاب منهم.
مُلازمة صلاة الجماعة، ولاسيما صلاة العشاء والفجر من علامات الإيمان.
عِظَم أجر صلاتي العِشاء والفجر؛ لما في الإتيان إليهما من مجاهدة النَّفس والمُصَابرة على الطَّاعة، فكان أجرهما أعظم من غيرهما.
صلاة الجماعة تنعقد باثنين فما فوق.
بيان فضل الصف الأول، والترغيب في المبادرة إليه.
فضل كثرة الجماعة، فإنه كلما كثر الجمع كان الأجر أكثر.
الأعمال الصالحة تتفاوت في الفضل بحسب تفضيل الشرع لها، وما تتصف به من أحوال.
