In the Name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful
Imam al-Nawawi records in his book Meadows of the Righteous:
باب فضل المشي إلى المساجد
The virtue of walking to the mosques.
Source: Riyāḍ al-Ṣāliḥīn 1/309
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
مَنْ غَدَا إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ وَرَاحَ أَعَدَّ اللَّهُ لَهُ نُزُلَهُ مِنْ الْجَنَّةِ كُلَّمَا غَدَا أَوْ رَاحَ
Whoever goes to the mosque at dawn or dusk, Allah will prepare for his residence in Paradise for every morning and evening.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 662, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
مَنْ تَطَهَّرَ فِي بَيْتِهِ ثُمَّ مَشَى إِلَى بَيْتٍ مِنْ بُيُوتِ اللَّهِ لِيَقْضِيَ فَرِيضَةً مِنْ فَرَائِضِ اللَّهِ كَانَتْ خَطْوَتَاهُ إِحْدَاهُمَا تَحُطُّ خَطِيئَةً وَالْأُخْرَى تَرْفَعُ دَرَجَةً
Whoever purifies himself with ablution in his house, then he walks to a house among the houses of Allah to fulfill an obligation among the obligations of Allah, one step of his will expiate his sins and another step will raise his status.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 666, Grade: Sahih
Ubayy ibn Ka’b reported: There was a man who lived the furthest from the mosque, as far as I know. He never missed a congregational prayer. It was said to him, “If you buy a donkey, you can ride it during the dark nights and hot days.” The man said, “I do not like for my house to be so close to the mosque. I want my walking towards the mosque, as well as returning to my home and family, to be recorded as good deeds for me.” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
قَدْ جَمَعَ اللَّهُ لَكَ ذَلِكَ كُلَّهُ
Allah has gathered all of that for you.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 663, Grade: Sahih
Jabir reported: A plot of land around the mosque was vacant, so the tribe of Salimah intended to move there to be closer to the mosque. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was told about that and he said to them:
إِنَّهُ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّكُمْ تُرِيدُونَ أَنْ تَنْتَقِلُوا قُرْبَ الْمَسْجِدِ
I have heard you intend to move near the mosque.
They said, “Yes, O Messenger of Allah. We have decided to do so.” The Prophet said:
يَا بَنِي سَلِمَةَ دِيَارَكُمْ تُكْتَبْ آثَارُكُمْ دِيَارَكُمْ تُكْتَبْ آثَارُكُمْ
O tribe of Salimah, keep to your houses and your steps will be recorded, keep to your houses and your steps will be recorded.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 665, Grade: Sahih
Abu Musa reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
أَعْظَمُ النَّاسِ أَجْرًا فِي الصَّلَاةِ أَبْعَدُهُمْ فَأَبْعَدُهُمْ مَمْشًى وَالَّذِي يَنْتَظِرُ الصَّلَاةَ حَتَّى يُصَلِّيَهَا مَعَ الْإِمَامِ أَعْظَمُ أَجْرًا مِنْ الَّذِي يُصَلِّي ثُمَّ يَنَامُ
The people with the greatest reward are those who walk the furthest, then the next furthest. Those who wait to pray with the Imam have a greater reward than those who pray alone and then sleep.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 651, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
Burdah al-Aslami reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
بَشِّرْ الْمَشَّائِينَ فِي الظُّلَمِ إِلَى الْمَسَاجِدِ بِالنُّورِ التَّامِّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ
Give glad tidings to those who walk to the mosque in darkness of perfect light on the Day of Resurrection.
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 223, Grade: Sahih
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
أَلَا أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَى مَا يَمْحُو اللَّهُ بِهِ الْخَطَايَا وَيَرْفَعُ بِهِ الدَّرَجَاتِ
Shall I not tell you about a deed with which Allah will expiate your sins and raise your status?
They said, “Of course, O Messenger of Allah.” The Prophet said:
إِسْبَاغُ الْوُضُوءِ عَلَى الْمَكَارِهِ وَكَثْرَةُ الْخُطَا إِلَى الْمَسَاجِدِ وَانْتِظَارُ الصَّلَاةِ بَعْدَ الصَّلَاةِ فَذَلِكُمْ الرِّبَاطُ
Thorough ablution despite difficulty, taking many steps to the mosque, and waiting for one prayer after another. That is like guarding the frontier.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 251, Grade: Sahih
Success comes from Allah, and Allah knows best.
