بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Performing Salat at certain masjids have specific virtues. The virtue of praying in Quba’ Mosque is receiving a reward akin to performing the Umrah.
Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) built the first mosque which is the Quba’ mosque. It was built after the Hijrah event when He migrated from Makkah to Yathrib (Madinah) to escape false prosecution and a murder attempt from the non-believers.
He migrated to Madinah with His best companion Abu Bakr as-Siddiq, travelling a distance of nearly 500 kilometers on foot.
In this modern day, authorities have renovated the Quba’ Mosque several times to accommodate visitors to the region. At the beginning the praying space was 1,600 m2, but it is now 5,035 m2, while the total area is 13,500 m2.
Hadith Regarding The Virtue of Praying in Quba’ Mosque
حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عَمَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حَاتِمُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، وَعِيسَى بْنُ يُونُسَ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ الْكِرْمَانِيُّ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا أُمَامَةَ بْنَ سَهْلِ بْنِ حُنَيْفٍ، يَقُولُ قَالَ سَهْلُ بْنُ حُنَيْفٍ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ “ مَنْ تَطَهَّرَ فِي بَيْتِهِ، ثُمَّ أَتَى مَسْجِدَ قُبَاءٍ، فَصَلَّى فِيهِ صَلاَةً، كَانَ لَهُ كَأَجْرِ عُمْرَةٍ ” .
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Whoever purifies himself in his house, then comes to the Quba’ Mosque and offers one prayer therein, will have a reward like that for Umrah.
Source: Sunan Ibn Majah 1412, graded as a Hasan Hadith.
Narrated by: Sahl Bin Hunaif (RA)
Based on the hadith above, a person who wishes to visit the first mosque built by Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) should always purify themselves by taking the wudhu’ at home. InsyaAllah they will be granted a reward as high as performing the Umrah.
The Quba’ Mosque is located around 3.5 kilometers away from the Nabawi Mosque. It should take around 30 to 40 minutes walk to get there. Nowadays transport services are available either by taxi, bus or a buggie and it cost 10 Riyals per pax.
But if you’re going on foot, beware, there are a lot of distractions (shops) a long the way so it might just take a tad longer to reach the Masjid.
The mosque is open 24/7 for visitors.
Quranic Verse About Masjid Quba’ and Masjid ad-Dirar
In Surah at-Tawbah, verses 107-108, Allah mentioned to Prophet Muhammad to not pray at Masjid ad-Dirar. A masjid that was built by the Munafiqun (hypocrites).
There are also those ˹hypocrites˺ who set up a mosque ˹only˺ to cause harm, promote disbelief, divide the believers, and as a base for those who had previously fought against Allah and His Messenger. They will definitely swear, “We intended nothing but good,” but Allah bears witness that they are surely liars.
Do not ˹O Prophet˺ ever pray in it. Certainly, a mosque founded on righteousness from the first day is more worthy of your prayers. In it are men who love to be purified. And Allah loves those who purify themselves.
In ayah 108, a ‘mosque founded on righteousness‘ is referring to Masjid Quba’.
Video Tour of The Quba’ Mosque
Conclusion About The Virtue of Praying in Quba’ Mosque
If you are on your way to Madinah, I highly recommend you to visit Quba’ Mosque after visiting Prophet Muhammad at Masjid Nabawi. Immerse yourself in its history and review back the Sirah that built up this beautiful mosque.
May Allah grant you the reward of performing Umrah once you’ve completed your prayer there as said in the Hadith above.
As always, do share this article to all of your family and friends. I hope that this post provides benefits and reminders to those who reads it. May it be one of the long lasting good deeds that rewards us well. Here and in the hereafter, InsyaAllah.
