The answer:

The context of the had?th, however, refutes this misconception for in the context there is a mention of Al-‘Ish?’ and Fajr Salaw?t, then the threat follows immediately.

(3) As for those who argue that the threat is addressed to those hypocrites [for their hypocrisy] not to those who abandon the [congregational] Sal?t; this argument is totally rejected for many reasons; some of which are the following:

First: The prophet ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) used not to kill hypocrites for their hidden believes and intentions but for their apparent deeds, such as: abandoning doing the obligations or committing Har?m. Were not such an act [i.e. abandoning the congregational Sal?t] an obligation, the prophet ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) would not have threatened them of burning their houses.

Second: The punishment stated in the had?th is connected with its reason which is abandoning the congregational Sal?t; so, the penalty must be connected with its reason.

Third: The threat in the had?th is a hard evidence of the congregation being an obligation as reported in “Sah?h Muslim” that Abdull?h Ibn Mas‘?d said: ‘Whoever wishes to meet All?h ( - عز وجل -) while being a [true] muslim, he should attend these five Salaw?t when their time is due for indeed All?h ( - عز وجل -) revealed on His prophet ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) the paths of guidance and performing these five Salaw?t in the mosque is one of these paths. If one does them at home, as those who abandon the congregational Sal?t do, one has indeed abandoned the prophet’s ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) Sunnah; and if one does so, he would go astray. Indeed, none would abandon them [the congregational Salaw?t] but the one who is a sheer hypocrite. Indeed, even the sick man used to attend it reclining on two men from both sides to be able to stand and be positioned in the row’. (1)