English Translation of Al-Quran
[30].Surah Ar-Rum [The Romans]
Ayat 31. (Always) Turning in repentance to Him (only), and be afraid and dutiful to Allah; and perform AsSalat [Iqamat Salat] (compulsory congregation prayers) and be not of AlMushrikun (the disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah, polytheists, idolaters, etc.).
Tafseer of Surah Al Rum (The Romans) Ayat 31. Turn ye back in repentance to Him, and fear Him: establish regular prayers, and be not ye among those who join gods with Allah, – “Repentance” does not mean sackcloth and ashes, or putting on a gloomy pessimism. It means giving up disease for health, crookedness (which is abnormal) for the Straight Way, the restoration of our nature as Allah created it from the falsity introduced by the enticements of Evil. To revert to the simile of the magnetic needle (n. 3540 above), if the needle is held back by obstructions, we must restore its freedom, so that it points true again to the magnetic pole.
English Translation of Hadith
Hazrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah [SAWW](PBUH) said, “By Him in Whose Hand my life is, I sometimes thought of giving orders for firewood (fuel) to be collected, then for proclaiming the Adhan for Salat. Then I would appoint an Imam to lead Salat, and then go to the houses of those who do not come to perform Salat in (compulsory congregation), and set fire to their houses on them.”
[Al-Bukhari Volume 1, Book 11, Hadith # 617].
Lesson: as mentioned above in Surah Ar-Rum [The Romans] Ayat 30. “Be afraid and dutiful to Allah; and perform AsSalat [Iqamat Salat] (compulsory congregation prayers) and be not of AlMushrikun” This Hadith shows utmost importance of Salat in congregation and also is quoted by such people who hold that those who are physically fit, resident and have no valid reason for not coming to the mosque for Salat, for them Salat in the mosque (Jama`ah) is a must. Some people are of the view that it is Sunnah Mu’akkadah (an established Sunnah, hence compulsory) and they take such Hadith for inducement because if performance of Salat in congregation was obligatory, those who missed it would have been punished by the Prophet [SAWW](PBUH), but we do not find any instance of it in his life. It clearly shows that it is Sunnah. If we go by logic, this view seems to be more correct. But we cannot, at the same time, lose sight of the importance that has been attached to the Salat in congregation, especially the fact that it is 27 times more rewarding than the Salat offered individually. This Hadith also tells us that it is permissible to take criminals and sinful people from their homes by surprise.
