Chapter on the Virtue of Mosques and Prayer Within Them, and the Virtue of Congregational Prayer and Its Rulings

Sahl ibn Ziyad from Amr ibn Uthman from Muhammad ibn Abdillah al-Khazzaz from Harun ibn Kharijah from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, who said: Imam al-Sadiq عليه السلام said to me: “O Harun ibn Kharijah, how far is it between you and the ‘Mosque of Kufa’? Is it a mile?” I said: “No”. Imam عليه السلام said: “Then do you perform all the prayers in it?” I said: “No”. So Imam عليه السلام said: “If I were present near it, I would hope that not a single prayer would pass me by in it. And do you know the merit of that place? There is not a single righteous servant nor a prophet except that he has prayed in your mosque, even the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family. Indeed, when Allah سبحانه وتعالى caused the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family, to be taken on the ‘Night Journey’ (Mi’raj), Jibra'il عليه السلام, said to him: ‘Do you know where you are, O’ Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم? At this moment you are facing the ‘Mosque of Kufa’.” Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: “Then ask permission from my Lord عز وجل, Mighty and Majestic, that I may go to it and pray two units of prayer in it.” So Jibra’il عليه السلام asked Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Majestic, for permission, and He عز وجل permitted. And indeed, its right side is a garden from the gardens of Paradise, And its center is a garden from the gardens of Paradise, And its rear is a garden from the gardens of Paradise. And indeed the obligatory prayer performed in it is equal to one thousand prayers, and the supererogatory prayer in it is equal to five hundred prayers. And sitting in it without recitation or remembrance is worship. And if the people knew what was in it, they would come to it even crawling.”