Obligation of Salah

Dear Islamic brothers! It has become obvious that if someone offers Salah 27 times after missing it with Jama’at, even then he cannot attain the reward equal to offering Salah with Jama’at. Surely, offering Salah with Jama’at has its own blessings which cannot be obtained without Jama’at, therefore, we should take great care of the punctuality of time for offering Salah with Jama’at and prefer Salah to our general work, family and other activities because no act can be more important than Salah. In Ayah 9 of Surah Al-Munafiqoon, part 28, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has stated:

یٰۤاَیُّهَا الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا لَا تُلْهِكُمْ اَمْوَالُكُمْ وَ لَاۤ اَوْلَادُكُمْ عَنْ ذِكْرِ اللّٰهِۚ-وَ مَنْ یَّفْعَلْ ذٰلِكَ فَاُولٰٓىٕكَ هُمُ الْخٰسِرُوْنَ(۹)

Translation from Kanz-ul-Iman: O People who believe! May not your wealth or your children cause you to neglect the remembrance of Allah; and whoever does this – so it is they who are in a loss.

(Part 28, Surah Al-Munafiqoon, Ayah 9)

A group of blessed commentators رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَالٰی have stated: In this blessed Ayah, ‘ذِكۡرِ اللّٰه’ refers to the five Salahs, therefore, whoever becomes negligent in offering Salahs at their fixed timings due to his business transaction or profession or children, will be amongst those who suffer a loss. (Kitab-ul-Kaba`ir, pp. 20)

At another place, in Ayah 42 and 43 of Surah Al-Muddassir, part 29, it is stated about those who do not offer Salah:

مَا سَلَكَكُمْ فِیْ سَقَرَ(۴۲)قَالُوْا لَمْ نَكُ مِنَ الْمُصَلِّیْنَۙ(۴۳)

Translation from Kanz-ul-Iman: ‘What took you into the Hell?’ They said, ‘We never used to offer the prayer.’ (Part 29, Surah Al-Muddassir, Ayah 42-43)