A legal Verdict regarding the Ruling on One Who leaves the Prayer and Prayer in Congregation

Question :

What is the ruling on one who abandons prayer, and what is the ruling on performing it in congregation?

Answer:

After studying the matter, the Committee for Legal Verdicts gave the following answer:

The prayer is the greatest of the pillars of Islam after the Shahadatain, and whoever abandoned it due to his denial of its obligation is a disbeliever, according to the unanimous agreement of the scholars. As for the one who abandons it due to negligence or laziness, the most correct opinion from among the sayings of the scholars is that he is a disbeliever and this is based on what was narrated by Muslim in his Sahih that the Prophet SAW said :
"Between a servant and disbelief and Shirk is abanondoning the prayer.

And what was narrated by Imam Ahmad in his Musnad and by At-Tirmithi in Al-Jami' from the Prophet that he said:

The covenant which is between us and them is the prayer, and whoever abandoned it, has disbelieved.

As for its being performed in congregation, it is obligatory upon every Muslim man, the evidence for which is in the Book (of Allah) and the Sunnah; among the evidences from the Book is the Words of Him, the Most High:
And when you (O Messenger Muhammad) are among them, and lead them in As-Salah (the prayer), let one party of them stand up (in prayer) with you, taking their arms with them.

So Allah, the Most Glorified, Most High commanded His Prophet, Muhammad to establish prayer in congregation, (even) in times of fear, which proves that at other times, it is with greater reason incumbent.

As for the Sunnah, it has been authentically reported in Sahih Muslim, on the authority of Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said: "A blind man came to the Prophet SAW and said: "O Messenger of Allah! I have no guide to lead me to the mosque." So he asked the Messenger of Allah to give him permission (to pray in his house), so he granted him permission. Then as he was leaving, he called him and said:
Do you hear the call (to prayer)?"

He said: "Yes." The Prophet said:

Then answer it.

In Ahmad's narration, (the Prophet said):
*I do not find any license for you.

The evidence that prayer in congregation is obligatory is taken from the fact that the Prophet did not grant permission for this blind man to pray at home. So if this blind man was not allowed to pray at home, then one who is sighted has even less right to do so. This is strengthened by the fact that it has been authentically reported from the Prophet that he intended to burn the houses of the people who did not attend the congregational prayer in the mosque. And it would not be permissible to threaten those who do not perform an act which was merely recommended or whose obligation was fulfilled by a number of the community performing it. And may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet, Muhammad and upon his family and Companions.