Short answer
For men, praying the five daily prayers in congregation is a sunnah mu'akkadah so close to wajib that many Hanafi scholars call it wajib; leaving it habitually without excuse is sinful. Praying alone is still valid. For women it is not required. The Hanbali school holds it is fard on men.
Congregation for the five daily fard prayers is a confirmed sunnah for men, close to wajib, and many Hanafi texts state it is wajib. A prayer alone is valid but loses the reward, and habitually leaving congregation without an excuse is sinful. Women are not required to attend.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- Congregation is a fard kifayah (communal obligation) on men in the relied view: it must be established in each community.
- Maliki
- Congregation is a sunnah mu'akkadah.
- Hanbali
- Congregation is fard on every able man; one who prays alone without excuse is sinful, though his prayer is valid.
Explanation
The Prophet ﷺ said prayer in congregation is 27 degrees better than prayer alone. He also said he had thought of burning the houses of men who stayed away from the congregation, which shows how serious it is. Allah tells us to "bow with those who bow". Based on these, the Hanafi school places congregation just below fard.
- Men: pray in the masjid when you can. If there is no masjid near, pray in congregation at home, work or school, even with one other person; two make a congregation.
- Women: not required to attend. Praying at home is better for them in the Hanafi school, where a congregation of women led by a woman is makruh tahrimi. See women in the mosque.
- Valid excuses: illness, heavy rain or severe cold, fear for your safety or property, needing the toilet, food served when you are very hungry, caring for a sick person, and blindness or disability without help.
Praying alone is valid in all four schools. The question is only about sin and reward. If you missed the congregation, pray alone without delay; you can also join a later congregation if one is formed.
When you arrive late, see joining the prayer late. To build the habit, use the salah tracker.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:43
وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَٱرْكَعُوا۟ مَعَ ٱلرَّٰكِعِينَ ﴿٤٣﴾
And establish prayer and give zakah and bow with those who bow [in worship and obedience].
Praying together with others is commanded.
Sahih al-Bukhari 645
Sahih... صلاة الجماعة تفضل صلاة الفذ بسبع وعشرين درجة ...
"Prayer in congregation is better than prayer alone by twenty-seven degrees."
The great reward of congregation.
Sahih al-Bukhari 644
Sahih... لقد هممت أن آمر بحطب فيحطب ...
"I thought of ordering firewood to be gathered."
The Prophet ﷺ was close to punishing those who stayed away, showing its importance.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Salah, chapter on the imamate. Congregation is a sunnah mu'akkadah.
- al-Durr al-Mukhtar with Radd al-Muhtar, Chapter on the imamate. Many scholars state congregation is wajib for men and list the excuses that drop it.
- Kashshaf al-Qina', Chapter on congregational prayer. The Hanbali view that congregation is an individual obligation on men.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.