بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Offering prayer is one of the pillars of the Islamic religion. There are five daily obligatory prayers that every Muslim must uphold. One can pray alone or in a congregation, and praying in a congregation is twenty-seven times better than praying alone.. Furthermore, praying in Masjid Nabawi and Masjid al-Haram is far better than any other mosques around the globe.
Now why is that? There are some authentic hadiths where Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) has spoken about the virtues of praying in both masjids. Lets take a look at them below.
Hadiths Regarding The Amazing Virtues of Praying in Masjid Nabawi and Masjid al-Haram
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ أَسَدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا زَكَرِيَّا بْنُ عَدِيٍّ، أَنْبَأَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْكَرِيمِ، عَنْ عَطَاءٍ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ “ صَلاَةٌ فِي مَسْجِدِي أَفْضَلُ مِنْ أَلْفِ صَلاَةٍ فِيمَا سِوَاهُ. إِلاَّ الْمَسْجِدَ الْحَرَامَ. وَصَلاَةٌ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ مِائَةِ أَلْفِ صَلاَةٍ فِيمَا سِوَاهُ ” .
It was narrated from Jabir that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “One prayer in my mosque is better than one thousand prayers elsewhere, except the Sacred Mosque, and one prayer in the Sacred Mosque is better than one hundred thousand prayers elsewhere.”
Source: Sunan Ibn Majah 1406
Narrated by: Jabir (RA)
حَدَّثَنِي عَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ، وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، – وَاللَّفْظُ لِعَمْرٍو – قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، يَبْلُغُ بِهِ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ صَلاَةٌ فِي مَسْجِدِي هَذَا أَفْضَلُ مِنْ أَلْفِ صَلاَةٍ فِيمَا سِوَاهُ إِلاَّ الْمَسْجِدَ الْحَرَامَ” .
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) narrated It directly from Allah’s Apostle’ (ﷺ) having said this: A prayer in my mosque is a thousand times more excellent than a prayer in any other mosque, except Masjid al-Haram (Mosque of the Ka’ba).
Source: Sahih Muslim 1394a
Narrated by: Abu Hurairah (RA)
After reading both authentic Hadiths above, we can see that the main mosque would be Masjid al-Haram. The Masjid is located at Makkah al-Mukarramah. This is where Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was born and raised.
The virtue of offering salat in Masjid al-Haram is 100,000 times better than one salat in any other mosques. On the other hand offering salat in Masjid Nabawi is 1000 times better.
Previously, the qibla pointed to Masjid al-Aqsa in Palestine, but Allah granted the prophet’s request to change it to face Masjid al-Haram..
Amazing Virtues of Praying in Masjid Nabawi and Masjid al-Haram: Journeying to visit other mosques
حَدَّثَنِي عَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ، وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، جَمِيعًا عَنِ ابْنِ عُيَيْنَةَ، – قَالَ عَمْرٌو حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، – عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، يَبْلُغُ بِهِ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ لاَ تُشَدُّ الرِّحَالُ إِلاَّ إِلَى ثَلاَثَةِ مَسَاجِدَ مَسْجِدِي هَذَا وَمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ وَمَسْجِدِ الأَقْصَى ” .
Abu Hurairah (Allah be pleased with him) reported it directly from Allah’s Apostle (ﷺ) that he said: Do not undertake a journey to visit any Mosque, but three: this Mosque of mine, the Mosque of al-Haram and the Mosque of Aqsa (Bait al-Maqdis).
Source: Sahih Muslim 1397a
Narrated by: Abu Hurairah
وَحَدَّثَنَاهُ أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الأَعْلَى، عَنْ مَعْمَرٍ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ “ تُشَدُّ الرِّحَالُ إِلَى ثَلاَثَةِ مَسَاجِدَ ” .
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Zuhri (but with this change of words) that he (Allah’s Apostle) said: ” Undertake journey to three mosques.”
Source: Sahih Muslim 1397b
Narrated by: Zuhri (RA)
وَحَدَّثَنَا هَارُونُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الأَيْلِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ الْحَمِيدِ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، أَنَّ عِمْرَانَ بْنَ أَبِي أَنَسٍ، حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّ سَلْمَانَ الأَغَرَّ حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّهُ، سَمِعَ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، يُخْبِرُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ إِنَّمَا يُسَافَرُ إِلَى ثَلاَثَةِ مَسَاجِدَ مَسْجِدِ الْكَعْبَةِ وَمَسْجِدِي وَمَسْجِدِ إِيلِيَاءَ ” .
One should undertake journey to three mosques: the mosque of the Ka’ba, my mosque, and the mosque of Elia (Bait al-Maqdis).
Source: Sahih Muslim 1397c
Narrated by: Abu Hurairah (RA)
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) recommended for us to make journey to only visit the three historic mosques. The two said above and Masjid al-Aqsa. In my opinion it is because the prophet does not want to burden others of the same faith.
If you do however have the financial means to do so then feel free to visit them. There are lots of beautiful mosques with fascinating architectural designs around the globe.
Conclusion About Amazing Virtues of Praying in Masjid Nabawi and Masjid al-Haram
Lets make it a goal to perform ibadah at Masjid al-Haram and Masjid Nabawi. Be it at least once in our life time. The rewards on the table are enormous and we should not let it pass by.
May Allah grant all of us the opportunity to perform prayers in Masjid al-Haram and Masjid Nabawi. May Allah make it easy for us to reach both Masjids as well.
As always, do share this piece of article out to all of your family and friends. May it be one of the long lasting good deeds that rewards us well. Here in this world and in the hereafter, InsyaAllah.
