Allah Rewards Both Walking To And From The Mosque

عَنْ أُبَيِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ قَالَ كَانَ رَجُلٌ لَا أَعْلَمُ رَجُلًا أَبْعَدَ مِنْ الْمَسْجِدِ مِنْهُ وَكَانَ لَا تُخْطِئُهُ صَلَاةٌ قَالَ فَقِيلَ لَهُ أَوْ قُلْتُ لَهُ لَوْ اشْتَرَيْتَ حِمَارًا تَرْكَبُهُ فِي الظَّلْمَاءِ وَفِي الرَّمْضَاءِ قَالَ مَا يَسُرُّنِي أَنَّ مَنْزِلِي إِلَى جَنْبِ الْمَسْجِدِ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ يُكْتَبَ لِي مَمْشَايَ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ وَرُجُوعِي إِذَا رَجَعْتُ إِلَى أَهْلِي فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَدْ جَمَعَ اللَّهُ لَكَ ذَلِكَ كُلَّهُ

Ubay bin Ka’ab reported:

There was a man, and I do not know of any other man, whose house was farther than his from the mosque and he never missed the prayer (in congregation). It was said to him or I said to him, “It would be better if you were to buy a donkey; you could ride upon it in the dark nights and in the burning sand.” He said, “I do not like my house to be situated by the side of the mosque, for I (eagerly) desire that my steps towards the mosque and back from it should be recorded when I return to my family.” Upon, this the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Allah has gathered all (rewards) for you.”

Narrated in Sahih Muslim, hadith no. 663

Grade: sahih (authentic)

Translation adapted from sunnah.com

Reflections:

1. Among the Companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) were those who never missed congregational prayer at the mosque even though their homes were further than anyone else’s.

2. There were among the Companions those who preferred to live far from the mosque so that their steps to and fro would gather them more reward.

3. Imam Nawawi wrote in Syarah Sahih Muslim, “Allah grants the same reward for coming home from the mosque as He does going to it.”

Thus, all the same, every step returning from the mosque alternately raises a Muslim’s standing by one degree (in the sight of Allah) and abolishes one sin.