Great reward for simple actions (3)

Masjids

* `Ubaydullah Al Khawlany reported that he heard `Uthman ibn `Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) saying when he heard people's saying about him when he built the Prophet's Masjid: You have talked too much and I heard the Prophet (peace be upon him) saying: "Whoever builds a masjid" Bakir said: [Bakir is the narrator of the Hadith from `Asim ibn `Umar ibn Qatadah who heard the Hadith from `Ubaydullah Al Khawlany] I think he said: for the sake of Allah, Allah shall build for him of the like in Paradise." [Reported by Al Bukhari and Muslim: Al Bukhari in the book of Salah, chapter on he who builds a masjid for the sake of Allah 1/116, and Muslim in the book of asceticism, chapter of the excellence of building masjids 8/222].

• The meaning of "Allah shall build for him of the like in Paradise," it is probably of the like in amount and area, but it will be more precious.

- It is probably "of the like" in what is so-called home, however it will be bigger and more honorable. [Sahih Muslim with the explanation of An-Nawawy 18/113].

* Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever goes to the masjid having the intention to learn goodness or teach it to others, he shall take the full reward of a pilgrim." [Reported by At-Tabarany in Al Mu`jam Al Kabir No. 7371, 8/111. Al Haythamy said in Majma` Az-Zawa'id wa Manba` Al Fawa'id 1/128: All its narrators are trustworthy. Al Hafizh Diya'ud-Din Al Maqdisy said in his book Fada'il Al A`mal P. 99: The chain of transmission is authentic according to the conditions of Imam Muslim. Al `Iraqy said in Takhrij Ahadith Al Ihya' 4/461: Its chain of transmission is good].

* Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Allah will prepare for him who goes to the mosque (every) morning and in the afternoon (for the congregational prayer) an honorable place in Paradise with good hospitality for (what he has done) every morning and afternoon goings." [Reported by Al Bukhari and Muslim with the wordings of Al Bukhari: The book of Adhan (call to Prayer), chapter on the excellence of those who go to the masjid No. 662, and Sahih Muslim, in the book of masjids and the position of Salah, chapter on walking to Salah erases sins No. 669].

• The apparent meaning of the Hadith is for those who come to the masjid, but the meaning is for those who come only for worship, and Salah is part of the acts of worship. [Fathul-Bary 2/148].

* Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Performing one Salah in my Masjid is a thousand times better than performing Salah elsewhere except Al Masjid Al Haram (the Sacred Mosque in Makkah)." [Reported by Muslim in the book of Hajj, chapter on the excellence of offering Salah in the two masjids of Makkah and Medina 4/124, and At-Tirmidhy in the book of Al Manaqib (outstanding traits), chapter on the excellence of Medina, No. 3916, 5/719, and said: It is a good and authentic Hadith with the wordings of Imam Muslim].

• The meaning is: The reward of offering Salah there is better than the reward of a thousand Salah elsewhere.

* Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah said: "When it is Friday, the angels stand at the gate of the mosque and keep on writing the names of the persons coming to the masjid in succession according to their arrivals. The example of the one who enters the mosque in the earliest hour is that of one offering a camel (in sacrifice). The one coming next is like one offering a cow and then a ram and then a chicken and then an egg respectively. When the Imam comes out (for Jumu`ah prayer) they (i.e. angels) fold their papers and listen to the Khutbah [religious speech]." [Reported by Muslim in the book of Friday, chapter on the excellence of going early to masjid on Friday, No. 850].

• At-Tayby said: The word "offering" indicates glorification to Friday and the one who hastens to it is like the one who drives the sacrificial animals.

• The meaning of "Fold their papers" is folding the papers of names without the papers of deeds, such as listening to the Khutbah, catching Salah, Dhikr, invocations, submission and reverence, and suchlike because the two angels on the left and the right always write these deeds.

• The Hadith shows the excellence of going early to masjids on Friday, as it shows also that the ranks of people are different according to their actions.

• Few charities are not despised in the Shari`ah. [Fathul-Bary 2/367].

* Usayd ibn Zuhayr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Salah in Masjid Quba' equals `Umrah."

* Sahl ibn Hanif said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "He who purifies (performs Wudu') himself in his house and then walks to Masjid Quba', then performed Salah therein shall take the reward of `Umrah." [Reported by Ibn Majah in the books of establishing Salah, chapter on Hadiths reported on performing Salah in Masjid Quba', No. 1409, 1410, 1/258. And Al Albany graded them as authentic in Sahih Ibn Majah, No. 1159, 1160].

* `Abdullah ibn Dinar said that he heard `Abdullah ibn `Umar saying: "The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to go to the Mosque of Quba' (sometimes) walking and sometimes riding."

* In another narration: "He used to go to Quba' every Saturday and used to say: I saw the Prophet (peace be upon him) coming every Saturday." [Reported by Muslim in his Sahih in the book of Hajj, chapter on the excellence of Quba' Mosque and excellence of performing Salah therein 4/127].