5/50. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 665b — Footsteps to Mosque Are Recorded
The virtue of taking many steps to the masjid
Hadith About Footsteps to the Mosque Being Recorded
Sahih Muslim : 665b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 665b
حَدَّثَنَا عَاصِمُ بْنُ النَّضْرِ التَّيْمِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا مُعْتَمِرٌ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ كَهْمَسًا، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَبِي نَضْرَةَ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ أَرَادَ بَنُو سَلِمَةَ أَنْ يَتَحَوَّلُوا، إِلَى قُرْبِ الْمَسْجِدِ . - قَالَ - وَالْبِقَاعُ خَالِيَةٌ فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " يَا بَنِي سَلِمَةَ دِيَارَكُمْ تُكْتَبْ آثَارُكُمْ " . فَقَالُوا مَا كَانَ يَسُرُّنَا أَنَّا كُنَّا تَحَوَّلْنَا .
Jabir bin `Abdullah Narrated from:
Banu Salama decided to shift near the mosque (as there were) some plots vacant. This (news) reached the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), whereupon he said: O people of the Salama tribe, you better stay in your houses (where you are living), for your footsteps are recorded They said. We could not be more delighted even by shifting (near the mosque) as we were delighted (on hearing these words from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).
Reference : Sahih Muslim 665bIn-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 353USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1408
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 665b
This hadith about footsteps to the mosque being recorded gives a second wording of the report about Banu Salama. They wanted to move near the mosque because there were empty plots. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told them, "O people of the Salama tribe, you better stay in your houses, for your footsteps are recorded." Their response is also important. They said they could not have been happier, even if they had moved. This shows how much they valued the Prophet's words about their steps. The main lesson is not that comfort is bad. The text simply shows that their walk to the mosque had recorded value, and that news brought them joy.
What we learn from this hadith
- Banu Salama planned to move closer to the mosque.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told them their footsteps were recorded.
- They felt great happiness after hearing that their steps had value.
