Prayer is the second pillar of Islam after shahadah. It is incumbent on every Muslim male and female. The Qur’an is full of verses which urge Muslim to perform prayer on time. The same thing applies to the Prophetic traditions that urge Muslims to maintain their prayers as it the core of Islam. It is the main base upon which the whole building is erected. According to a hadith, if it was sound, all other deeds will be sound. If it was spoiled, the whole other deeds will be spoiled.

According to a hadith reported by Ahmad that whoever lives near the mosque, he will not get full reward for his prayer until he perform it in the mosque. It is reported that the great Companion ‘Abdullah Ibn Om Maktoom came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asking for permission not to attend the congregation prayer. We know that he was a blind. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) refused to give him permission and said: Do you hear the call for prayer? The companion said: I do. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: I find no excuse for you not to attend the congregation prayer.

Ibn `Umar quoted the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as saying: “The reward of salah performed in congregation outweighs that of salah performed individually by twenty-seven degrees.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

If there is valid reason such as heavy rains, fear, etc., then you are recommended to join the jama’ah in the mosque.