It is narrated from Sayyiduna Zaid bin Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) made a small room with a mat in the mosque and prayed in it at night. When people found out, they also gathered, but then they could not hear the voice of the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). They thought that he (peace and blessings be upon him) had fallen asleep, so some people started coughing so that he (peace and blessings be upon him) would come out to them. Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: I am aware of what you have been doing. The real matter is that I fear this standing (in prayer) may be made obligatory upon you, and if it is made obligatory, you will not be able to maintain it. Therefore (I say that) O people! Pray in your homes. A man's prayer in his house is the best deed, except for the obligatory prayer.

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Sa’d (may Allah be pleased with him) says that I asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): Is it better for me to pray at home or in the mosque? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Do you not see my house? It is very close to the mosque, but still, praying at home is more beloved to me than praying in the mosque, except for the obligatory prayer (which should be performed in the mosque).