If Muslims prefer to perform all their five prayers at home and Friday prayers in Mosques then they shouldn’t feel guilty. Congregational prayers are of greater rewards as you can meet with people and communicate while feeling better. It’s required for all Muslims to offer their five time prayers everyday in Mosques or in congregation. But for work at home or any schedule maintenance, he can offer prayers at home alone. Remember, worshiping the Almighty with five time prayers is a kind of thankfulness and it’s obligatory.

Praying Alone vs Praying in Congregation

Some Muslims intentionally avoid praying at Mosques and some pray always at Mosques. Here, two things come into play; first one is praying at home alone lessens their reward to 27 times. Second one is not better either because it’s required for a Muslim to keep some of his prayers for his home. This makes sense in such a way that you should not make your home like a graveyard. In the graveyards no prayers performed so make your home better by praying at home as well.

Offering the obligatory prayers with the congregation in the mosque is much better and brings much higher reward. According to what’s told earlier above that praying with congregation gives 27 times of reward more than prayer offered alone.

The Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) is quoted to have said in several Hadeeths; encouraging Muslims to keep some of their prayers for home. Ibn Umar quotes: “Offer some of your prayers in your homes so as not to make these homes like graves.” (Related by Al-Bukhari).

What Islam Considers for Muslims

Meanwhile, Islam considers the whole earth a place of worship. Prayers can be offered anywhere but not at certain places such as bathrooms or graveyards. So, Muslim man at the time of an obligatory prayer can offer prayers there itself where he maybe. Keeping in mind the place is clean, which means that it could possibly his home or workplace. Furthermore, prayers are part of a Muslim’s regular activities and can be offered from anywhere.

Those, who are dead and in grave have no duties of worship to perform. Henceforth, it’s clear that a home in which no act of worship offered is like a grave.

Finally, if your ailing mother is with you at home, and you’ll lock her in and closed the door to go Mosque? Even this doesn’t trouble you then if a new born is with you and you’ll leave your baby and go to Mosque? So prayers need to be performed promptly at right time even if you are working or at home.

Khalid M Raza