When did the whole ummah adhere to praying five times a day in the masjid?

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The five daily prayers (Salat) were ordained during the Isra and Mi’raj (Night Journey and Ascension), around 621 CE (5 years before Hijrah).
Initially, prayers were 2 Rak’ahs each, later expanded in Madinah (except Fajr, which remained 2).
The Prophet ﷺ strongly emphasized congregational prayer (Jama’ah), saying:
“The prayer of a man in congregation is twenty-seven times more superior to his prayer alone.” (Bukhari)
Men were expected to pray in the masjid, while women were permitted but not obligated.

Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab (r. 634–644) formalized congregational prayers in mosques and appointed paid Imams for larger cities.
Mosques became central to Muslim life—not just for prayer but also governance, education, and community affairs.
Non-attendance was discouraged, but strict enforcement varied by region.

State enforcement of congregational prayer increased under some rulers (e.g., Umar ibn Abdul Aziz).
Mosque architecture expanded (e.g., Great Mosques of Damascus, Samarra), making jama’ah more accessible.
Scholars like Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (d. 855) stressed mosque attendance as near-obligatory for men.

Sultanic decrees (e.g., Ottoman Kanunnames) penalized missing Friday prayers.
Mosques were built in every neighborhood, solidifying the five-time congregational norm in urban areas.
Rural areas still had variations due to distance.

Islamic revival movements (e.g., Salafiyyah, Tablighi Jama’at) reemphasized mosque attendance.
Technology (loudspeakers, prayer apps) made adherence easier.
Exceptions remain for travelers, women, and health cases.

By the Abbasid era (9th century), praying five times a day in mosques was widely normative for Muslim men.
Full “universal” adherence is still idealistic—some Muslims pray at home due to circumstance, though mosque prayer remains the dominant sunnah.