The most burdensome prayers for the hypocrites are the ‘Ishā’ and Fajr prayers. If they were to know the virtue of them, they would come to them, even if they had to crawl

Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) tells about the hypocrites and their laziness when it comes to attending the prayer, especially the 'Ishā' and Fajr prayers, and that if they were to know the amount of reward for attending them along with the Muslim congregation, they would come to it even if they had to crawl like infants upon their hands and knees. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) thought of ordering the prayer to be commenced and appointing someone to lead the people in prayer instead of him. Then he would go, along with people carrying firewood, to men who were not attending the congregational prayer and burn their houses with fire, given the gravity of their sin in doing so. Yet, he did not do that because the houses contained women, innocent children, and others with valid excuses for not attending the prayer - for they committed no sin.

Lessons

• The graveness of the failure to attend the congregational prayer in the mosque.
• The hypocrites would seek nothing out of their worship but show-off and reputation, for they would only attend prayers when people could see them.
• The reward for offering the ‘Ishā’ and Fajr prayers in the congregation is great, and they are worthy of being attended even if people have to crawl.
• Regularly attending the ‘Ishā’ and Fajr prayers protects from hypocrisy, and the failure to participate in them is one of the traits of the hypocrites.