It is narrated from Sayyiduna Uthman bin Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Whoever performs the ‘Isha prayer in congregation, it is as if he has stood in prayer for half the night, and whoever performs the Fajr prayer in congregation, it is as if he has stood in prayer for the entire night.

It is narrated from Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: If people knew how much (reward and merit) there is in the ‘Isha and Fajr prayers, they would certainly come to perform them, even if they had to crawl on their buttocks.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ubayy bin Ka'b (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) led the morning prayer and then said: "Is such-and-such a man present?" The people said: "No." Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Is such-and-such a man present?" The people said: "No." Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Is such-and-such a man present?" The people said: "No." Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Indeed, these two prayers (Isha and Fajr) are very burdensome upon the hypocrites. If they knew what reward lies in them, they would surely come to perform them, even if they had to crawl on their buttocks. And the first row is like the row of angels, and if you knew its virtue, you would try to outdo one another to attain it. And the prayer performed by a man with two others is purer (i.e., has more reward) than the prayer performed with one man, and the more people there are, the more beloved that prayer is to Allah."

(Second chain) They said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, led the Fajr prayer. When he finished the prayer, he asked: Is such-and-such person present? The people remained silent, then some said: No, he is not present. Then the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Indeed, the Fajr and Isha prayers are the heaviest upon the hypocrites, (then he mentioned things similar to the previous narration), and he, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Indeed, the prayer you perform with two men is purer than the prayer you perform with one man, and the prayer you perform with one man is purer than the prayer you perform alone, and the more people there are, the more beloved it is to Allah.

(Third chain of narration) They said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, led us in the Fajr prayer. When he finished the prayer, he noticed that there were some people missing among the worshippers. Then he asked: Is such-and-such a man present? We said: Yes. He continued asking about three men in this manner. Then the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Indeed, there is no prayer heavier upon the hypocrites than the ‘Isha and Fajr prayers. (Then the entire above-mentioned hadith was narrated.)

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: If those who stay behind from the Fajr and ‘Isha prayers knew how much reward and merit there is for them in these two, they would surely come to the mosque even if they had to crawl on their buttocks.