Salam,
Bismillah.
Volume 1, Book 11, Number 617:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah's Apostle said, "By Him in Whose Hand my soul is, I was about to order for collecting fire-wood (fuel) and then order someone to pronounce the Adhan for the prayer and then order someone to lead the prayer, then I would go from behind and burn the houses of men who did not present themselves for the (compulsory congregational) prayer. By Him, in Whose Hands my soul is, if anyone of them had known that he would get a bone covered with good meat or two (small) pieces of meat present in between two ribs, he would have turned up for the 'Isha' prayer.'
- Photo Credit: Yumna Arif
And then, we get to know how important it is for men to come out to the masjid to pray. The way Prophet (SAW) expressed his anger towards those who sit home and do not attend the congregational prayer is just heart-wrenching. Such anger. Such hatred. Not personal, of course. All for Allah's sake.
Brothers, if you're not so motivated to go to the masjid to pray, remind yourself of this Hadith. Imagine Prophet (SAW) coming to BURN DOWN YOUR PLACE! Just pray in the masjid, dude!
Sisters, feel for your brothers, your fathers, your husbands. Do whatever you need to do in order to send them to the masjid. Otherwise, you'll be with them when the house is being burnt down.
Wassalam.
Taken from http://ilookilisten.wordpress.com/2011/11/05/by-him-in-whose-hands-my-soul-is-importance-of-prayer-in-congregation-hadith-no-617/
