What is the virtue of being present for the opening takbeer (takbeerat al-ihram), and does this include any mosque? Does a woman praying in her home attain the reward of congregational prayer by hearing the takbeer? And does one who hears the takbeer while on the way to the mosque attain its reward?

The desirability of attaining the opening takbir in congregation with the imam is affirmed. For whoever prays forty days in congregation, attaining the first takbir, two immunities are written for him: immunity from the Fire and immunity from hypocrisy. Attaining the opening takbir is better than a hundred camels, all of them black-eyed.

The reward for the opening takbir is attained in any mosque where the congregational prayer is performed. The schools of thought differ regarding the ruling on a woman praying in her home, following the imam while there is a barrier: The Hanafis and Malikis (except for the Friday prayer) permit this, while the Hanbalis and Shafi'is do not validate her following with a barrier present. Hearing the opening takbir without joining the prayer with the imam is not considered attaining its virtue.