5/50. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 663a — Steps to the Mosque Recorded
The virtue of taking many steps to the masjid
Hadith About Steps to the Mosque Being Recorded
Sahih Muslim : 663a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 663a
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْثَرٌ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ التَّيْمِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي عُثْمَانَ النَّهْدِيِّ، عَنْ أُبَىِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ، قَالَ كَانَ رَجُلٌ لاَ أَعْلَمُ رَجُلاً أَبْعَدَ مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ مِنْهُ وَكَانَ لاَ تُخْطِئُهُ صَلاَةٌ - قَالَ - فَقِيلَ لَهُ أَوْ قُلْتُ لَهُ لَوِ اشْتَرَيْتَ حِمَارًا تَرْكَبُهُ فِي الظَّلْمَاءِ وَفِي الرَّمْضَاءِ . قَالَ مَا يَسُرُّنِي أَنَّ مَنْزِلِي إِلَى جَنْبِ الْمَسْجِدِ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ يُكْتَبَ لِي مَمْشَاىَ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ وَرُجُوعِي إِذَا رَجَعْتُ إِلَى أَهْلِي . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " قَدْ جَمَعَ اللَّهُ لَكَ ذَلِكَ كُلَّهُ " .
Ubayy bin Ka'b Narrated from:
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 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.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 663aIn-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 347USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1402
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 663a
This hadith about steps to the mosque being recorded tells of a man whose home was very far from the mosque, yet he never missed the prayer in congregation. Someone suggested that he buy a donkey to ride on dark nights and in hot sand. His answer shows what he hoped for: he wanted his walk to the mosque and his return to his family to be recorded. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم then said that Allah had gathered all of that for him. The focus is clear. The man valued the recorded reward of his effort. The hadith teaches that sincere effort made for congregational prayer has worth, even when the walk is hard.
What we learn from this hadith
- The man did not miss congregational prayer despite living far from the mosque.
- He hoped both his going and returning steps would be recorded.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم confirmed that Allah gathered that reward for him.
