It was narrated that Abu Dharr said: "I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, which Masjid on earth was built first?' He said: 'Al-Masjid Al-Haram (in Makkah).' I said: 'Then which?' He said: 'Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa (in Jerusalem).' I said: 'How long was there between the two?' He said: 'Forty years. And wherever you are when the time for prayer comes, then pray, for it is a Masjid."' According to the Hadith of Abu Kamil: The Prophet (s.a.w) said, "Then wherever you are when the time for prayer is due, then pray, for it is a Masjid."

حَدَّثَنِى أَبُو كَامِلٍ الْجَحْدَرِىُّ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَاحِدِ حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ ح قَالَ وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِى شَيْبَةَ وَأَبُو كُرَيْبٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ التَّيْمِىِّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِى ذَرٍّ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَىُّ مَسْجِدٍ وُضِعَ فِى الأَرْضِ أَوَّلُ قَالَ « الْمَسْجِدُ الْحَرَامُ ». قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَىٌّ قَالَ « الْمَسْجِدُ الأَقْصَى ». قُلْتُ كَمْ بَيْنَهُمَا قَالَ « أَرْبَعُونَ سَنَةً وَأَيْنَمَا أَدْرَكَتْكَ الصَّلاَةُ فَصَلِّ فَهُوَ مَسْجِدٌ ». وَفِى حَدِيثِ أَبِى كَامِلٍ « ثُمَّ حَيْثُمَا أَدْرَكَتْكَ الصَّلاَةُ فَصَلِّهْ فَإِنَّهُ مَسْجِدٌ ».

Ibrahim bin Yazid At-Taimi said: I used to recite the Qur'an to my father at As-Suddah of the Masjid, and when I recited a verse where prostration is required, he would prostrate. I said to him: 'O my father, are you prostrating in the street?' He said: 'I heard Abu Dharr say: "I asked the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) about the first Masjid to be built on earth. He said: 'Al-Masjid Al-Haram.' I said: 'Then which?' He said: 'Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa.' I said: 'How long was there between the two?' He said: 'Forty years. But the earth is a Masjid for you, so wherever you are when the time for prayer is due, then pray."'

حَدَّثَنِى عَلِىُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ السَّعْدِىُّ أَخْبَرَنَا عَلِىُّ بْنُ مُسْهِرٍ حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ التَّيْمِىِّ قَالَ كُنْتُ أَقْرَأُ عَلَى أَبِى الْقُرْآنَ فِى السُّدَّةِ فَإِذَا قَرَأْتُ السَّجْدَةَ سَجَدَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ يَا أَبَتِ أَتَسْجُدُ فِى الطَّرِيقِ قَالَ إِنِّى سَمِعْتُ أَبَا ذَرٍّ يَقُولُ سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- عَنْ أَوَّلِ مَسْجِدٍ وُضِعَ فِى الأَرْضِ قَالَ « الْمَسْجِدُ الْحَرَامُ ». قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَىٌّ قَالَ « الْمَسْجِدُ الأَقْصَى ». قُلْتُ كَمْ بَيْنَهُمَا قَالَ « أَرْبَعُونَ عَامًا ثُمَّ الأَرْضُ لَكَ مَسْجِدٌ فَحَيْثُمَا أَدْرَكَتْكَ الصَّلاَةُ فَصَلِّ ».

It was narrated that Jabir bin 'Abdullah Al-Ansari said: "The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: 'I have been given five things that were not given to anyone before me: Every Prophet was sent only to his own people, but I have been sent to red and black; the spoils of war have been permitted to me and they were not permitted to anyone before me; the earth has been made pure, a means of purification and a place of prostration, so wherever a man is when the time for prayer is due, let him pray wherever he is; and I have been supported with fear for the distance of one month's journey ahead of me; and I have been granted intercession."'

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى أَخْبَرَنَا هُشَيْمٌ عَنْ سَيَّارٍ عَنْ يَزِيدَ الْفَقِيرِ عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الأَنْصَارِىِّ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- « أُعْطِيتُ خَمْسًا لَمْ يُعْطَهُنَّ أَحَدٌ قَبْلِى كَانَ كُلُّ نَبِىٍّ يُبْعَثُ إِلَى قَوْمِهِ خَاصَّةً وَبُعِثْتُ إِلَى كُلِّ أَحْمَرَ وَأَسْوَدَ وَأُحِلَّتْ لِىَ الْغَنَائِمُ وَلَمْ تُحَلَّ لأَحَدٍ قَبْلِى وَجُعِلَتْ لِىَ الأَرْضُ طَيِّبَةً طَهُورًا وَمَسْجِدًا فَأَيُّمَا رَجُلٍ أَدْرَكَتْهُ الصَّلاَةُ صَلَّى حَيْثُ كَانَ وَنُصِرْتُ بِالرُّعْبِ بَيْنَ يَدَىْ مَسِيرَةِ شَهْرٍ وَأُعْطِيتُ الشَّفَاعَةَ ».

It was narrated that Hudhaifah said: "The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: 'We have been favored over the people in three things: Our rows (in prayer) have been made like the rows of the Angels; the whole earth has been made a place of prostration for us, and its dust has been made a means of purification if water cannot be found,' and he mentioned another thing."

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِى شَيْبَةَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ فُضَيْلٍ عَنْ أَبِى مَالِكٍ الأَشْجَعِىِّ عَنْ رِبْعِىٍّ عَنْ حُذَيْفَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- « فُضِّلْنَا عَلَى النَّاسِ بِثَلاَثٍ جُعِلَتْ صُفُوفُنَا كَصُفُوفِ الْمَلاَئِكَةِ وَجُعِلَتْ لَنَا الأَرْضُ كُلُّهَا مَسْجِدًا وَجُعِلَتْ تُرْبَتُهَا لَنَا طَهُورًا إِذَا لَمْ نَجِدِ الْمَاءَ ». وَذَكَرَ خَصْلَةً أُخْرَى.

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: "I have been favored over the other Prophets in six ways: I have been given the gift of encompassing speech; I have been supported with fear (over the enemy); the spoils of war have been made permissible for me; the earth has been made a means of purification and a place of prostration for me; I have been sent to all creatures; and the Prophets were sealed with me (i.e. I am the last of the Prophets)."

وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَيُّوبَ وَقُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ وَعَلِىُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ - وَهُوَ ابْنُ جَعْفَرٍ - عَنِ الْعَلاَءِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِى هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- قَالَ « فُضِّلْتُ عَلَى الأَنْبِيَاءِ بِسِتٍّ أُعْطِيتُ جَوَامِعَ الْكَلِمِ وَنُصِرْتُ بِالرُّعْبِ وَأُحِلَّتْ لِىَ الْغَنَائِمُ وَجُعِلَتْ لِىَ الأَرْضُ طَهُورًا وَمَسْجِدًا وَأُرْسِلْتُ إِلَى الْخَلْقِ كَافَّةً وَخُتِمَ بِىَ النَّبِيُّونَ ».

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: "The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: 'I have been sent with encompassing speech and I have been supported with fear (over the enemy). While I was sleeping, I was given the keys to the treasures of the earth and they were placed in my hand."' Abu Hurairah said: "The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) has gone and now you are busy acquiring them."

حَدَّثَنِى أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ وَحَرْمَلَةُ قَالاَ أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ حَدَّثَنِى يُونُسُ عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ عَنْ أَبِى هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- « بُعِثْتُ بِجَوَامِعِ الْكَلِمِ وَنُصِرْتُ بِالرُّعْبِ وَبَيْنَا أَنَا نَائِمٌ أُتِيتُ بِمَفَاتِيحِ خَزَائِنِ الأَرْضِ فَوُضِعَتْ فِى يَدَىَّ ». قَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ فَذَهَبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- وَأَنْتُمْ تَنْتَثِلُونَهَا.

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: "I have been supported against the enemy with fear and I have been given the power of encompassing speech. While I was sleeping I was given the keys of the treasures of the earth, and they were placed in my hand."

وَحَدَّثَنِى أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْحَارِثِ عَنْ أَبِى يُونُسَ مَوْلَى أَبِى هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّهُ حَدَّثَهُ عَنْ أَبِى هُرَيْرَةَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- أَنَّهُ قَالَ « نُصِرْتُ بِالرُّعْبِ عَلَى الْعَدُوِّ وَأُوتِيتُ جَوَامِعَ الْكَلِمِ وَبَيْنَمَا أَنَا نَائِمٌ أُتِيتُ بِمَفَاتِيحِ خَزَائِنِ الأَرْضِ فَوُضِعَتْ فِى يَدَىَّ ».

Anas bin Malik narrated that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) came to Al-Madinah and stayed in the upper part of Al-Madinah, among a tribe called Banu 'Amr bin 'Awf. He stayed among them for fourteen nights, then he sent for the chiefs of Banu An-Najjar, and they came with their swords hanging from their necks. He said: "It is as if I can see the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) on his mount, with Abu Bakr riding behind him, and the chiefs of Banu An-Najjar around him, until he dismounted in the courtyard of Abu Ayyub. The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) used to pray wherever he was when the time for prayer was due, and he used to pray (even) in sheep pens. Then he was ordered to build the Masjid. He sent for the chiefs of Banu An-Najjar and they came. He said: "O Banu An-Najjar, name me a price for this grove of yours." They said: "No, by Allah, we will only ask its price from Allah." Anas said: "There was in it what I say: There were palm trees, the graves of the idolators, and some ruins. The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) ordered that the trees be cut down, the graves of the idolators dug up, and the ruins leveled. They lined the tree trunks up facing the Qiblah and reinforced the door frames with stones, and they were chanting Rajaz verses, and the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) was with them, saying: 'O Allah, there is no goodness except the goodness of the Hereafter; So help the Ansar and the Muhajirin."'

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى وَشَيْبَانُ بْنُ فَرُّوخَ كِلاَهُمَا عَنْ عَبْدِ الْوَارِثِ - قَالَ يَحْيَى أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَارِثِ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ أَبِى التَّيَّاحِ الضُّبَعِىِّ حَدَّثَنَا أَنَسُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- قَدِمَ الْمَدِينَةَ فَنَزَلَ فِى عُلْوِ الْمَدِينَةِ فِى حَىٍّ يُقَالُ لَهُمْ بَنُو عَمْرِو بْنِ عَوْفٍ. فَأَقَامَ فِيهِمْ أَرْبَعَ عَشْرَةَ لَيْلَةً ثُمَّ إِنَّهُ أَرْسَلَ إِلَى مَلإِ بَنِى النَّجَّارِ فَجَاءُوا مُتَقَلِّدِينَ بِسُيُوفِهِمْ - قَالَ - فَكَأَنِّى أَنْظُرُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- عَلَى رَاحِلَتِهِ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ رِدْفُهُ وَمَلأُ بَنِى النَّجَّارِ حَوْلَهُ حَتَّى أَلْقَى بِفِنَاءِ أَبِى أَيُّوبَ - قَالَ - فَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- يُصَلِّى حَيْثُ أَدْرَكَتْهُ الصَّلاَةُ وَيُصَلِّى فِى مَرَابِضِ الْغَنَمِ ثُمَّ إِنَّهُ أَمَرَ بِالْمَسْجِدِ قَالَ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَى مَلإِ بَنِى النَّجَّارِ فَجَاءُوا فَقَالَ « يَا بَنِى النَّجَّارِ ثَامِنُونِى بِحَائِطِكُمْ هَذَا ».قَالُوا لاَ وَاللَّهِ لاَ نَطْلُبُ ثَمَنَهُ إِلاَّ إِلَى اللَّهِ. قَالَ أَنَسٌ فَكَانَ فِيهِ مَا أَقُولُ كَانَ فِيهِ نَخْلٌ وَقُبُورُ الْمُشْرِكِينَ وَخِرَبٌ. فَأَمَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- بِالنَّخْلِ فَقُطِعَ وَبِقُبُورِ الْمُشْرِكِينَ فَنُبِشَتْ وَبِالْخِرَبِ فُسُوِّيَتْ - قَالَ - فَصَفُّوا النَّخْلَ قِبْلَةً وَجَعَلُوا عِضَادَتَيْهِ حِجَارَةً - قَالَ - فَكَانُوا يَرْتَجِزُونَ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- مَعَهُمْ وَهُمْ يَقُولُونَ اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّهُ لاَ خَيْرَ إِلاَّ خَيْرُ الآخِرَهْ فَانْصُرِ الأَنْصَارَ وَالْمُهَاجِرَهْ.

It was narrated that Al-Bara' bin 'Azib said: "I prayed with the Prophet (s.a.w) facing towards Bait Al-Maqdis for sixteen months, until the verse in Al-Baqarah was revealed: "... And wheresoever you people are, tum your faces (in prayer) in that direction..." It was revealed after the Prophet (s.a.w) had completed his prayers. A man went out and passed by some people from among the Ansar who were praying, and told them, so they turned to face towards the Ka'bah."

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِى شَيْبَةَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الأَحْوَصِ عَنْ أَبِى إِسْحَاقَ عَنِ الْبَرَاءِ بْنِ عَازِبٍ قَالَ صَلَّيْتُ مَعَ النَّبِىِّ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- إِلَى بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ سِتَّةَ عَشَرَ شَهْرًا حَتَّى نَزَلَتِ الآيَةُ الَّتِى فِى الْبَقَرَةِ (وَحَيْثُمَا كُنْتُمْ فَوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُ) فَنَزَلَتْ بَعْدَ مَا صَلَّى النَّبِىُّ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- فَانْطَلَقَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ فَمَرَّ بِنَاسٍ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ وَهُمْ يُصَلُّونَ فَحَدَّثَهُمْ فَوَلَّوْا وُجُوهَهُمْ قِبَلَ الْبَيْتِ.

Al-Bara' said: "We prayed with the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) facing towards Bait Al-Maqdis for sixteen months or seventeen months, then we turned to face the Ka'bah."

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى وَأَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ خَلاَّدٍ جَمِيعًا عَنْ يَحْيَى - قَالَ ابْنُ الْمُثَنَّى حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ - عَنْ سُفْيَانَ حَدَّثَنِى أَبُو إِسْحَاقَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ الْبَرَاءَ يَقُولُ صَلَّيْنَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- نَحْوَ بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ سِتَّةَ عَشَرَ شَهْرًا أَوْ سَبْعَةَ عَشَرَ شَهْرًا ثُمَّ صُرِفْنَا نَحْوَ الْكَعْبَةِ.