Brief Comments on Riyaadh al-Saaliheen #1

Reward of going to the Masjid

بـسـم الله والحـمـد لله والـصلاة والـسـلام عــلى رسـول الله، وبـعـد

Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله commented on the saying of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم:

"And this is because if he performs ablution and does it perfectly and then proceeds to the Masjid with the sole intention of praying, then for every step he takes towards the Masjid, he is upgraded one degree in reward and his one sin is taken off (crossed out) from his accounts till he enters the Masjid" [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (477, 2119) and Saheeh Muslim (1065)]

“If a person leaves his house but does not intend to offer the Salaah (i.e. does not intend to go to the Masjid) then this reward is not written for him. For example: A person leaves his home to go to his shop, and when he hears the Adhaan, he goes for prayer - such a person will not receive this reward; because this reward is for the one who comes out of his house, and nothing makes him come out except the need to offer the prayer (in the Masjid). However, perhaps the reward for him will be recorded when he sets out from his shop or the place where he does his business and goes to the Masjid to offer the prayer in it, and as long as he sets out from this place in the state of purity (i.e. ablution). And Allaah is the One who grants success.”

[Sharh Riyaadh al-Saaliheen (1/74)]