Benefits Of Praying At The Mosque
“I had considered ordering for the prayer to be established, then I would order every man to pray and set loose men who have with them logs of wood upon a people who did not come to the prayer and I would burn their houses with the fire.” (Bukhari, Muslim)
Here are some virtues of praying Salah at the Masjid:
1. Superiority of praying in congregation
He (Sallallahu Alaihi wasallam) also said, “ Prayer in congregation is superior to prayer alone by twenty-seven degrees.” [Bukhari & Muslim, from Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with him)]
2. A place in Jannah for those who attend the Masjid Morning and evening
Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu anhu) reported: The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wasallam) said, ”He who goes to the mosque in the morning or in the evening, Allah prepares for him a place in Jannah whenever he goes to the mosque in the morning and returns from it in the evening.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
3. Reward for every step taken to the Masjid
Abu Hurairah(radi Allahu anhu) reported: The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wasallam) said, ”He who purifies (performs Wudu’) himself in his house and then walks to one of the houses of Allah (mosque) for performing an obligatory Salat, one step of his will wipe out his sins and another step will elevate his rank (in Jannah).” [Muslim].
Subhan Allah! Every step is a reward, so the further you go to the Masjid, the more reward you receive for every step.
4. Greatest reward for one who lives furthest from Masjid
Abu Musa (radi Allahu anhu) reported: The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wasallam) said, ”The person who will receive the highest reward for Salat (prayer) is the one who comes to perform it in the mosque from the farthest distance. And he who waits for Salat to perform it with the Imam (in congregation) will have a greater reward than the one who observes it alone and then goes to sleep.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu anhu) reported: The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wasallam) said, ”Shall I not tell you something by which Allah effaces the sins and elevates the ranks (in Jannah).” The Companions said: ”Yes (please tell us), O Messenger of Allah.” He said, ”Performing the Wudu’ properly despite difficult circumstances, walking with more paces to the mosque, and waiting for the next Salat (prayer) after observing Salat; and that is Ar-Ribat, and that is Ar-Ribat.” [Muslim].
So the further one lives from the Masjid, the more reward they will gain for attending the Masjid!
5. Glad tidings for one who goes to the Masjid for Isha and Fajr
Buraidah (radi Allahu anhu) reported: The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wasallam) said, ”Convey glad tidings to those who walk to the mosque in the darkness. For they will be given full light on the Day of Resurrection.” [At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud].
‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan (radi Allahu anhu) said, “I heard the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wasallam): ‘If someone prays ‘Isha’ in a group, it is as if he had prayed half of the night. If someone prays Subh in a group, it is as if he had prayed the entire night.’” [Muslim]
Abu Hurayra (radi Allahu anhu) reported that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wasallam), said, ”And if they only knew what was in the prayers of ‘Isha’ and Subh, they would come to them even if they had to crawl.” [Agreed upon]
Abu Hurayra (radi Allahu anhu) reported that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wasallam) said, ”There is no prayer heavier on the hypocrites than Fajr and ‘Isha’. If they only knew what is in them, they would come to them even if they had to crawl.” [Agreed upon]
6. The one who attends Masjid night & day is a true believer
Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri (radi Allahu anhu) reported: The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wasallam) said, ”When you see a man frequenting the mosque, testify that he is a believer because Allah says: ‘Allah’s mosques are visited only by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day.’ [At-Tirmidhi].

