Salaah in the Masjid
As we find ourselves in level 1 lockdown, the government has lifted certain restrictions relating to religious gatherings. 50% of the masjid capacity can now be filled. For those of us that were adhering to the government regulations, it is now easier to perform Salaah in the Masjid.

It was the burning desire of Nabi S.A.W. that the males of his Ummah perform every Fardh Salaah with Jamaat in the masjid. Initially, prior to the construction of the Masaajid, the Sahaabah R.A. used to perform Salaah at various places. However, immediately after Hijrah from Makkah Mukarramah, even before entering Madinah Munawwarah, Nabi S.A.W. built Musjid Quba as he wished that the people of each locality perform their Salaah with Jamaat in the Masjid.

After entering Madinah Munawwarah, the first concern of Nabi S.A.W. was to build a Masjid so that the Sahaabah R.A. of Madinah Munawwarah could perform their Salaah with Jamaat in the Masjid. Hence, Musjid Nabawi was constructed.

Similarly, Nabi S.A.W. encouraged the Sahaabah R.A. to build Masaajid in every locality, so that the people of each locality can perform their Salaah in the house of Allah.

There are many rewards for performing Salaah in the Masjid. Some of the benefits are…

Means of Sins being Forgiven and Ranks being Elevated
Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood R.A. reports that Nabi S.A.W. said,

“Whoever performs Wudhu, and performs a good Wudhu, and thereafter proceeds to a masjid from among these Masaajid, then for every step that he takes, Allah writes for him a good deed, raises his rank by one stage and forgives one of his sins.”

The Guest of Allah
Hazrat Amr bin Maimoon R.A. reports that Hazrat Umar R.A. said,

“The Masaajid are the houses of Allah on the earth, and the host takes responsibility to honour the one who visits Him.”