People within close circle of Imam Khomeini say that he used to participate in congregational prayer even if it was led by a clergy who had personal differences or was at odds with Imam's political and philosophical views.
Imam didn’t take it personally and just described it as difference of opinion or misunderstanding.
Imam also used to say that if someone had paved a wrong way, why should I act in a similar manner.
Imam used to maintain that the religion of Islam has a significant social dimension, and it has relied on and emphasized this dimension in many of its programs through the blessed effects of unity, solidarity and consistency.
The holding of the daily obligatory prayers in congregation is one of these programs.
Great rewards for congregational prayer have been mentioned in the hadiths, some of which have been cited below:
Constant participation in congregational prayer saves a person from becoming a hypocrite (munafiq). And there are rewards for every step taken toward congregational prayer and the mosque.
The person who goes out of his house to participate in congregational prayer and waits in the mosque for it, gets the reward of a person who is engaged in prayer for the entire period.
It is mentioned in another hadith that God and the angels love one who loves congregational prayer.