Sayyiduna Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: The people living around the mosque must absolutely refrain from neglecting to attend the congregation of the ‘Isha prayer, otherwise I will most certainly burn their houses with bundles of firewood.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: If there were no women and children in the houses, I would establish the ‘Isha prayer and order my young men to burn whatever is in the houses.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: The ‘Isha and Fajr prayers are the heaviest upon the hypocrites, and if they knew how much reward and merit there is in them, they would surely come, even if they had to crawl on their buttocks. I intended to order the muezzin to call the adhan, then order a man to lead the people in prayer, and I myself would go with some men carrying bundles of burning wood towards those who stayed behind from the prayer, and then burn their houses with fire.

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umm Maktum (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) came to the mosque and saw that there were few people in the prayer, then he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Surely, my intention is that I appoint an imam for the people, then I myself go out and burn the houses of every person whom I find staying behind from the prayer, along with his house. Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umm Maktum (may Allah be pleased with him) said: O Messenger of Allah! Between me and the mosque are date palms and trees, and I do not always have a guide (to bring me to the mosque), so is there permission for me to pray at home? He (peace and blessings be upon him) asked: Do you hear the adhan? He said: Yes. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Then you will have to come for the prayer.

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: I intend to order the young men to collect bundles of firewood, then I would order a man to lead the people in prayer, and I would go to those who stay behind from the prayer and burn their houses along with them. By Allah! If any one of them knew that he would get a meaty bone or two hoofs by attending the prayer, he would surely come. And if they knew how much reward and virtue there is in this prayer, they would surely attend, even if they had to crawl on their buttocks.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, he says: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, came to the mosque at the time of Isha prayer and saw people sitting in separate groups. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, became extremely angry; we had never seen him so severely displeased before. He, peace and blessings be upon him, said: By Allah! I have intended to order a man to lead the people in prayer, then I would go to those who stay behind from the prayer and burn their houses along with them.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, that one night the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, delayed the ‘Isha prayer until a third of the night or nearly that time had passed. Then, when he, peace and blessings be upon him, came, there were few people and they were sitting in groups. So he, peace and blessings be upon him, became extremely angry and then said: If a man were to call these people in their locality towards a bone with meat or two hooves, they would surely accept his call. These people lag behind even from this prayer. Indeed, I have intended that I order a man to lead the prayer, and I go to those households who lag behind from this prayer and burn their houses along with them with fire.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Certainly, I have intended to order a man to lead the people in prayer, then to order (someone) to burn down the houses of those who do not pray with us, along with their inhabitants.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Mu’adh bin Anas al-Juhani, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: (There is) distance from Allah’s mercy, great distance, disbelief and hypocrisy, in the person who hears Allah’s caller giving the adhan for prayer and calling towards success, but does not accept his call (and does not come for congregational prayer).