The Virtue of Mosques, Their Sanctity and the Reward for Those Who Pray in Them

Abu Hamza al-Thumali narrated from Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام that He said: "Whoever performs an obligatory prayer in the Sacred Mosque (Masjid al-Haram), Allah سبحانه وتعالى accepts it as equivalent to every prayer they have performed since the day prayer became obligatory upon them, and every prayer they will perform until they die."

The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: "A prayer performed in my mosque (Masjid al-Nabawi) is equivalent to one thousand prayers in any other mosque, except for the Sacred Mosque (Masjid al-Haram), for a prayer performed in the Sacred Mosque is equivalent to one thousand prayers performed in my mosque”.

Abd al-Ala, the freedman of Ale Saam, asked Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام about the dimensions of the Mosque of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم. Imam عليه السلام said: "It was three thousand and six hundred cubits, broken up (referring to its measured parts)”.

Abu Ja'far, Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام, said to Abu Hamzah al-Thumali: "The four mosques are: the Sacred Mosque (Masjid al-Haram), the Mosque of the Messenger (Masjid al-Nabawi), the Mosque of Bayt al-Maqdis (Jerusalem), and the Mosque of Kufa. O’ Abu Hamzah, performing an obligatory prayer in any of these mosques is equivalent to performing a pilgrimage (Hajj), and a supererogatory (optional) prayer in them is equivalent to performing an ‘Umrah (minor pilgrimage)."

Abu Al-Hasan, Imam Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha عليه السلام was asked about the grave of Sayyida Fatimah Al-Zahra صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, and Imam عليه السلام said: "She was buried in her house, but when the Umayyads expanded the mosque, her grave became part of the mosque."

The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: "Whoever comes to my mosque, the Mosque of Quba, and prays two rak'ahs in it, it is as if they have performed an ‘Umrah."

As for the other side (of Mosque of Quba), "That is the location of the tent of the hypocrites. When they saw him (the Prophet) raising his hand, some of them said to one another, 'Look at his eyes; they are turning as if he were a madman.' Then Archangel Jibril عليه السلام descended with this verse: 'Indeed, those who disbelieve would almost make you slip with their eyes when they hear the message and they say, "He is indeed mad." But it is nothing except a reminder to the worlds.' (Surah Al-Qalam, 68:51-52)" Al-Sadiq عليه السلام narrated this incident to Hassan al-Jammal when he accompanied him from Madinah to Makkah. Imam عليه السلام said to him: "O’ Hassan, if you were not my camel driver, I would not have narrated this story to you."

As for the Mosque of Al-Khayf in Mina, it has been narrated by Jabir from Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام that He said: "Seven hundred prophets prayed in the Mosque of al-Khayf."

Abu Hamza al-Thumali narrated from Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام that He said: "Whoever prays one hundred rak'ahs in the Mosque of al-Khayf in Mina before leaving it, it is equivalent to the worship of seventy years. Whoever glorifies (says 'SubhanAllah سبحانه وتعالى') one hundred times in it, Allah سبحانه وتعالى records for them the reward of freeing a slave. Whoever declares the oneness of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (says 'La ilaha illa Allah سبحانه وتعالى') one hundred times in it, it is equivalent to the reward of reviving a soul. Whoever praises Allah سبحانه وتعالى (says 'Alhamdulillah') one hundred times in it, it is as if they have given in charity the value of the entire wealth of Iraq and its surroundings in the path of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic."

Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "The Mosque of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم during his time extended near the minaret located at the center of the mosque, and above it towards the Qibla, approximately thirty cubits, as well as a similar distance to its right, left, and behind. So, focus on this area, and if you can make your place of prayer within it, then do so, for one thousand prophets have prayed there. It was called 'al-Khayf' because it is elevated above the valley, and anything that rises above it is called 'Khayf.'"

Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "The boundary of the Mosque of Kufa extends to the end of the lamp-makers' area. It was originally marked by Adam عليه السلام, and I dislike entering it while riding." He was asked: "Who altered its original boundaries?" Imam عليه السلام said: "The first change occurred due to the flood during the time of Noah عليه السلام, followed by changes made by the companions of Khosrow (the Persian rulers) and al-Nu'man, and then later by Ziyad ibn Abi Sufyan."

Imam عليه السلام said: "It is as if I can see a monk in the Mosque of Kufa, in his monastery, between the corner and the pulpit, where there are seven date palms, watching and conversing with Noah عليه السلام from his elevated position."

Abu Basir said: "I heard Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام say: "What a blessed mosque is the Mosque of Kufa! A thousand prophets and a thousand successors (of prophets) have prayed in it. From it 'the oven gushed forth' (a reference to the flood of Noah). In it, the Ark was built. Its right side is the Ridwan of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, its center is a garden from the gardens of Paradise, and its left side is a place of deceit, meaning the abodes of the devils”.

The Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام said: "Journeys should not be undertaken except to three mosques: the Sacred Mosque (Masjid al-Haram), the Mosque of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, and the Mosque of Kufa."

The Prophet, said: "When I was taken on the Night Journey (Isra'), I passed by the site of the Mosque of Kufa while I was on al-Buraq, with Archangel Jibril عليه السلام accompanying me. Archangel Jibril عليه السلام said to me, 'O’ Muhammad, descend and pray at this place.' So, I descended and prayed. Then I asked: 'O’ Archangel Jibril عليه السلام, what is this place?' Archangel Jibril عليه السلام said: 'O’ Muhammad, this is Kufa, and this is its mosque. As for me, I have seen it twenty times in a state of ruin and twenty times in a state of prosperity, with five hundred years between each state.'"

It has been reported from Al-Asbagh ibn Nubata that He said: One day while we were with Amir al-Mu'minin عليه السلام in the Mosque of Kufa, Imam عليه السلام said: "O’ people of Kufa, Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, has blessed you with something no one else has been blessed with—the virtue of your place of prayer, which was the house of Adam, the house of Noah, the house of Idris, the place of prayer of Ibrahim عليه السلام the Friend (Khalil), the place of prayer of my brother al-Khidr عليه السلام, and my place of prayer. This mosque of yours is one of the four mosques chosen by Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, for its people. I can see it on the Day of Judgment, coming in two white garments, resembling a pilgrim in ihram, and it will intercede for its people and for those who pray in it; its intercession will not be rejected. The days and nights will not pass until the Black Stone is placed in it. A time will come when it will be the place of prayer for the Mahdi from my descendants and the place of prayer for every believer. No believer will remain on the earth without either being there or having their heart yearn toward it. So, do not abandon it. Seek nearness to Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, by praying in it, and turn to Him to fulfil your needs in it. If people knew the blessings it contains, they would come to it from all corners of the earth, even if they had to crawl on ice."

As for the Mosque of Al-Sahla, Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "If my uncle Zayd had sought refuge in it, Allah سبحانه وتعالى would have protected him for a year. This is the location of the house of Idris عليه السلام, where he used to sew, and it is the place from which Ibrahim عليه السلام departed to the Amalekites. It is also the place from which David عليه السلام set out to confront Goliath. Beneath it lies a green stone that contains the image of the face of every prophet created by Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic. From beneath it, the clay (substance) of every prophet was taken. It is also the place of the Rider." He was asked: "And who is the Rider?" Imam عليه السلام said: "Al-Khidr عليه السلام."

It was narrated from Jabir ibn Abdullah Al-Ansari that He said: "Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام led us in prayer at Baratha after returning from the battle with the Khawarij, and we were about one hundred thousand men. A Christian descended from his monastery and asked: "Who is the leader of this army?" We said: "This man (referring to Imam Ali عليه السلام)." He approached him, greeted him, and said: "O’ my master, are you a prophet?" Imam Ali عليه السلام replied: "No, the Prophet, my master, has passed away." The man asked: "Then you are the successor of a prophet?" Imam Ali عليه السلام said: "Yes." Imam Ali عليه السلام then asked him, "Sit down; why do you ask this?" The man replied: "I built this monastery because of this place, which is Baratha, and I have read in the revealed books that no one will pray here with such a large gathering except for a prophet or the successor of a prophet. So, I have come to accept Islam." He then embraced Islam and accompanied us to Kufa. Imam Ali عليه السلام asked him, "Who else has prayed here?" The man replied: "Jesus, the son of Mary عليه السلام, and his mother." Ali said to him, "Shall I inform you of who else has prayed here?" The man said: "Yes." Imam Ali عليه السلام said: "Ibrahim عليه السلام."

Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "Whoever clears his throat in the mosque and then swallows it back, no disease will pass through them without it curing them."

The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: "Whoever sweeps the mosque on Thursday and the night of Jumu’ah (Thursday night) and removes from it even the dust that could irritate the eye, Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Exalted, will forgive them."

Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "Whoever walks to the mosque, every step they take—whether it falls upon something moist or dry—glorifies Allah سبحانه وتعالى for them down to the seventh earth”.

Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام said : "A prayer in Bayt al-Maqdis (Jerusalem) is equivalent to one thousand prayers. A prayer in the Great Mosque (Masjid al-Haram) is equivalent to one hundred thousand prayers. A prayer in the Mosque of the Tribe (Masjid al-Qabilah) is equivalent to twenty-five prayers. A prayer in the market mosque is equivalent to twelve prayers. A man's prayer in his home is equivalent to one prayer."

Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام said: "Whoever builds a mosque as small as a sandgrouse’s nest, Allah سبحانه وتعالى will build for them a house in Paradise."

Abu Ubaidah Al-Hadha’ said: "Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام passed by me while I was between Makkah and Madinah placing stones. I asked: 'Is this from that?' Imam عليه السلام said: 'Yes.'"

Ubaidullah ibn Ali Al-Halabi asked Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام about covered (roofed) mosques, whether standing (prayer) in them is disliked. Imam عليه السلام said: "Yes, but praying in them does not harm you."

Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام said: "The first thing our Qa'im (the awaited savior Imam Muhammad ibn Hassan Al-Mahdi عليه السلام ) will do is to break the roofs of the mosques and order them to be made as an open canopy (like the canopy of Musa عليه السلام)”.

When Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام saw the niches (mihrabs) in mosques, he would break them and say, "It is as if they are the altars of the Jews."

Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام saw a mosque in Kufa that had been decorated or elevated and said: "It is as if it is a church. Mosques are not to be adorned; they should be built plain (simple)."

Abu Al-Hasan al-Awwal, Imam Musa ibn Jafar Al-Kadhim عليه السلام, was asked about using clay mixed with straw to plaster the mosque or the house where prayers are offered. Imam عليه السلام said: "There is no harm in it."

He was asked about using plaster that had been prepared with dung for plastering a mosque. Imam عليه السلام said: "There is no harm."

Abu Al-Hasan al-Awwal, Imam Musa ibn Jafar Al-Kadhim عليه السلام was asked about a house that had been used as a latrine for a period of time and whether it would be suitable to make it into a mosque. Imam عليه السلام said: "If it is cleaned and repaired, then there is no harm."

Ubaidullah ibn Ali Al-Halabi asked Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام about a mosque within a house, where the owners might wish to expand part of it or move it from its original location. Imam عليه السلام said: "There is no harm in that." Ubaydullah then asked: "Would it be suitable for a place that was previously used as a latrine for a period of time to be cleaned and made into a mosque?" Imam عليه السلام said: "Yes, if soil is placed over it to cover it, as this cleanses and purifies it."

The Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام used to say: "Whoever frequently visits the mosques will attain one of eight benefits: a brother (friend) beneficial in the cause of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, newly acquired knowledge, a definitive verse (of guidance), a mercy awaited, a word that turns him away from misguidance, hearing a word that leads him to guidance, abandoning a sin out of fear (of Allah سبحانه وتعالى) or out of shame”.

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, heard a man searching for a lost item in the mosque and said: "Say to him, 'May Allah سبحانه وتعالى not return your lost item to you,' for the mosque was not built for this purpose."

Imam عليه السلام said: "Keep your children, the insane, raising of voices, buying and selling, seeking lost items, and administering legal punishments and rulings away from your mosques”.

The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: "Whoever lights a lamp in one of the mosques of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the angels and the bearers of the Throne will continue to seek forgiveness for them as long as there remains any light from that lamp in the mosque."

Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام said: "If any of you takes a pebble from the mosque, let them return it to its place or to another mosque, for it glorifies Allah سبحانه وتعالى”.

Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "The best mosques for your women are their homes."

Imam عليه السلام was asked about endowing property to mosques, and He said: "It is not permissible, for the Magians endowed property for their fire temples”.

It is narrated "In the Torah, it is written that 'My houses on earth are the mosques. Glad tidings to the servant who purifies themselves in their home and then visits Me in My house. Surely, it is incumbent upon the host to honor their guest. Give glad tidings to those who walk in the darkness to the mosques of a radiant light on the Day of Judgment.'"

It is narrated: "The houses in which prayers are offered at night shine with light for the inhabitants of the heavens just as the stars shine with light for the inhabitants of the earth."

It is narrated that Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام, passed by a tall minaret and ordered it to be demolished. He then said: "The minaret should not be raised higher than the roof of the mosque”.

"And indeed, Allah سبحانه وتعالى, Blessed and Exalted, intends to bring punishment upon all the people of the earth without exception. But when He looks at the elderly, who move their feet to the prayers and the children learning the Qur'an, He has mercy on them and withholds that punishment”.