Praying in congregation in the mosque is obligatory for men who are able to do it, according to the correct scholarly view, based on a great deal of evidence, including the words of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him): “By the One in Whose hand is my soul, I was thinking of issuing instructions that firewood be collected, then I would issue instructions that the call to prayer be given, then I would instruct a man to lead the people in prayer, then I would leave them and go and burn the houses of some men. By the One in Whose hand is my soul, if one of them knew that he would find a meaty bone or a sheep’s foot, he would attend `Isha’ prayer.”

If you pray in congregation at home or in the workplace, you do not attain the reward of praying in congregation in the mosque.

If the worshippers are spaced out in the row because of precautionary measures required due to the pandemic, then there is no longer any reason to prevent praying between the pillars, and it is not disliked (makruh) to stand in a row between them in this case.

There is no specific distance defined in Shari`ah, rather that depends on `Urf (custom) or the distance within which the Adhan can be heard without a microphone.

If the Iqamah for prayer is given while you are still in the first Rak`ah of an optional prayer, then you should cut it short. If that happens when you are in the second Rak`ah, then you should complete it quickly and not cut it short.

Saying Bismillah  out loud in Al-Fatihah in the prayer is permissible; it is not a Bid`ah or prohibited. But most of the time in his prayer, the Prophet did not pronounce it out loud; rather he recited it quietly.

There is a concession allowing Maghrib and `Isha’ prayers to be joined at the time of Maghrib when there is rain that soaks people’s clothes and will cause hardship when going to the mosque for `Isha’ prayer.