A summary of the concepts of Ahl al-Sunnah.
Evidence for the obligation of congregational prayer.
This is hidden from many people.
The evidence for the obligation of congregational prayer is abundant and well-known.
However, among the strong evidence for it, despite its obscurity to many people,
is the description of the prayer of fear (salat al-khawf).
For the prayer of fear is mentioned as being performed in congregation,
in ways and forms that involve a compromise of the obligations in the usual prayer,
such as reducing the number of units (rak'ahs) and excessive movement within it, and so forth.
The principle is that when an obligation and a recommended act conflict,
the obligation takes precedence over the recommended act.
So, if congregational prayer were merely recommended,
then praying individually, while preserving the obligations of prayer, would take precedence.
But since these obligations were abandoned for the sake of the prayer of fear performed in congregation,
this indicates that congregational prayer is obligatory.
Indeed, it is more obligatory than preserving some of the obligations of prayer.