Congregational Prayer At The Mosque After The Call To Prayer

عَنْ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَنْ سَمِعَ الْمُنَادِيَ فَلَمْ يَمْنَعْهُ مِنْ اتِّبَاعِهِ عُذْرٌ قَالُوا وَمَا الْعُذْرُ قَالَ خَوْفٌ أَوْ مَرَضٌ لَمْ تُقْبَلْ مِنْهُ الصَّلَاةُ الَّتِي صَلَّى

Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas: 

If anyone hears he who makes the call to prayer and is not prevented from joining the congregation by any excuse--he was asked what an excuse consisted of and replied that it was fear or illness--the prayer he offers will not be accepted from him.

Reference  : Sunan Abi Dawud 551

In-book reference  : Book 2, Hadith 161

English translation  : Book 2, Hadith 551

Grade: dhaif (weak)

Translation adapted from sunnah.com

Lessons:

1. It is the responsibility of every Muslim who hears the azan (call to prayer) to immediately head to the mosque for congregational prayer.

2. Two categories of people who are excused from congregational prayer are those who are ill and those who have khauf (i.e. are in fear).

3. According to Ibnu Qudamah in Al-Mughniyy, khauf is divided into three: fear for the safety of oneself, for the safety of his property, and for the safety of his family.

4. According to Imam an-Nawawi, congregational prayer is a fardhu kifayah (collective obligation) decreed upon males who are sane, baligh (of age to discern between right and wrong), have clothes which cover aurat, and have no other valid excuse.