A blind man came to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and said: O Messenger of Allah, I am blind and have no one to help me and take me by the hand to the mosque for the five prayers. He sought a dispensation from the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) to not attend the prayer in congregation. As he gave him the dispensation and the man turned his back to leave, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) called him and asked: Do you hear the Adhān? The man replied in the affirmative. So, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: Then, respond to the caller to prayer.
- The Hadīth highlights the obligation of the congregational prayer, for a dispensation can only be sought for something due and obligatory.
- His words "Then respond" for those who hear the Adhān indicate that praying in congregation is obligatory, for a command basically denotes obligation.
صحيح مسلم (1/ 452) (653). شرح النووي على مسلم (5/ 155). فتح ذي الجلال والإكرام، شرح بلوغ المرام، لابن عثيمين (2/ 254).