The Virtues of Congregational prayer In Islam
The fulfillment of (obligatory) prayers in the congregation is compulsory and necessary for every believing adult man who has no excuse for not doing this. Many authentic Hadith emphasize the excellence and superiority of prayer in the congregation. Among these Hadith’s are:
Prophet (saw) said: “The prayer in the congregation exceeds the prayer, performed individually by twenty-seven degrees.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Prophet (saw) also said “The prayer of a person in the congregation is twenty-five times greater (as a reward) his prayer in his house or on the market, because he takes a bath and refines it and goes to the mosque with the sole purpose – to make a prayer. He does not take a step, not having received a degree and not destroying one of his sins. When he prays, until he loses ablution, the angels continue to pray [for him] ‘O Allah, bless him. O Allah, have mercy on him. ” And he is considered to be in prayer while he is waiting for prayer. ” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Abandoning of the congregational prayer in Islam
To know the status of the prayer with the congregation and how seriously it is to leave it, the Prophet 
hardly anyone freed from this. Abu Hurayrah 
reported that the blind man said to the prophet : “O Messenger of Allah, I do not have a guide to lead me to the mosque (to attend the common prayer).” He asked the Prophet for permission to pray in your home and the prophet allowed him. Then, when he turned to leave, the Prophet called him and said “Do you hear the call to prayer?” The blind man said, “Yes.” Prophet then said “Then answer it [by coming to the mosque]! ” [Muslim]
Moreover, the Prophet strictly warned against abandoning it. Abu Huraira also reported that the prophet said: “I swear on whose hand is my soul!” I thought about kindling a fire and asking someone to lead the people in prayer. And then go to the men [who did not attend the prayer] and burn their houses above them. ” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
READ MORE: How To Welcome New Child In Islam
This was clearly understood by the comrades. 
and their words reflected that. ‘Abdullah Ibn Masood said, “If someone would like to meet with Allah tomorrow as a Muslim, he must continue to observe these five prayers (in the congregation) whenever they are addressed, because Allah chose for your Prophet the path of proper leadership. AND [five prayers in congregation] are part of this proper guide. If you prayed to them in your homes, as one who remains in his home, you would leave the “sunna” of your Prophet If you leave the “sunna” of your prophet you would go astray. Verily, I have seen a time when no one left them. [the congregational prayers] except for the hypocrites who were well known for their hypocrisy. The person will be brought, with the support of two people [due to his weakness or illness] until he was ranked (in assembly). ” [Muslim]
Prophet stressed the importance of prayer in the congregation under any circumstances. In one hadith he said: “Any three people living in the village or in the desert who do not commit Athan and do not offer prayer will be crushed by Satan, so you should arrange joint prayers, since the wolf eats only sheep that deviate from the herd.” [Ahmad, An-Nasa’i, and Abu Dawood Al-Albani graded it Hasan]
What number is considered congregational prayer?
The smallest amount required for prayer in the congregation is two: the imam (the leader) and another one with him. The more people, the more useful the prayer. Prophet said: “The prayer of a person with another person costs more than his prayer separately, and his prayer with two men costs more than his prayer with only one person. The more of them, the more Allah rewards them. ” [Ahmad and Abu Dawood]
READ MORE: Important of Prayer
It is better to make a prayer in a mosque. The further the mosque, the better. Concerning this, the Prophet said: “The people who have received the greatest reward are those who go farthest on foot (to the mosque).”[Muslim, Ahmad and Abu Dawood]
Who should be imam
The congregational prayer is led by the imam. An imam must be a man who is fair and knowledgeable about Islamic jurisprudence. The imam is standing in front, and the followers stand behind him in a straight line, all facing the Qibla (direction of the Kaaba). The most worthy of leading people in prayer is the one who memorizing and reciting the Quran the best. If they are equal, then he who has the most profound knowledge of the sunnah. If they are still equal in knowledge of the Sunna, then the oldest of the group. The Messenger of Allah said: “The most knowledgeable in reading the Book of Allah leads people in prayer. If they are equal, then the one who is most aware of the Sunnah. If they are all equal, then whoever emigrated earlier. If they are all equal again, then the oldest of them. ” [Muslim]
Women attend prayer in the congregation
As for women, it is better and more useful for them to pray in their homes than to attend the prayers of the congregation. However, they can attend a prayer in a mosque, provided they are protected from any temptation. In addition, they should avoid wearing or using any attractive or seductive jewelry or perfume, and refrain from mixing with men like the Prophet (saw) said: “Do not hinder the slave women of Allah (that is, the women) from the mosques of Allah. They must go without perfume. If she wears perfume, she is not entitled to attend a prayer in a congregation in a mosque. ” [Ahmad and Abu Dawood]
Women leading Congregational prayer
A woman is forbidden to lead a man in prayer. If a woman leads a man in prayer, his prayer is invalid and he should come up with it. This is an issue that is agreed between lawyers.