Quran
Hadith
Islamic Text
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
In the Name of Allah Most Merciful Most Kind
Short Answer
Yes, there is extra reward for prayer in Masjid al-Aqsa. In one narration 250 times the reward is alluded to. In another 500 times is mentioned.
Explanation
Narration of 250
عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، قَالَ: تَذَاكَرْنَا وَنَحْنُ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَيُّهُمَا أَفْضَلُ: مَسْجِدُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، أَوْ مَسْجِدُ بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: “ صَلَاةٌ فِي مَسْجِدِي هَذَا أَفْضَلُ مِنْ أَرْبَعِ صَلَوَاتٍ فِيهِ، وَلَنِعْمَ الْمُصَلَّى
قال الذهبي: صحيحAbu Dharr (May Allah Most High be pleased with him) said: We were discussing, whilst in the presence of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, which of the two is more virtuous: the Masjid of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ or the Masjid of Bayt al-Maqdis. So, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ‘One prayer in this Masjid of mine is more virtuous than four prayers therein. It is a blessed place for prayer.’ (Mustadrak al-Hakim 8553, Imam al-Dhahabi agreed that it is Sahih).
From the authentic Hadith above, we can deduce that prayer in Masjid al-Aqsa is 250 times greater than prayer in other Masjids. This is because a Hadith narration in Bukhari mentions that prayer in Masjid Nabawi is 1000 times greater than prayer in other Masjids. However, the narration above states that it is four times greater than prayer in Masjid al-Aqsa. Thus, it would make prayer in Masjid al-Aqsa 250 times better than elsewhere. Since, it is a quarter of Masjid Nabawi.
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ: أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: صَلاَةٌ فِي مَسْجِدِي هَذَا خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ صَلاَةٍ فِيمَا سِوَاهُ، إِلَّا المَسْجِدَ الحَرَام
Abu Hurairah (May Allah Most High be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: Prayer in this Masjid of mine is better than a thousand prayers elsewhere, except for the Sacred Masjid (al-Haram). (Sahih al-Bukhari, 1190).
Narration of 500
عَن أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ، رَضِي اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُول اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيه وَسَلَّم: فَضْلُ الصَّلَاةِ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ عَلَى غَيْرِهِ مِائَةُ أَلْفِ صَلَاةٍ، وَفِي مَسْجِدِي أَلْفُ صَلَاةٍ، وَفِي مَسْجِدِ بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ خَمْسُمِائَةِ صَلَاةٍ
Abu al-Darda (May Allah Most High be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: The reward of prayer in the Sacred Masjid (al-Haram) over all others besides it, is a hundred thousand prayers. In my Masjid it is a thousand prayers. In the Masjid of Bayt al-Maqdis it is five hundred prayers. (Musnad al-Bazar 4142, Hasan)
The Hadith above was considered Hasan (sound) by Imam al-Bazar. Very few other classical scholars commented on the authenticity. Those who did comment seemed to concur with Imam al-Bazar.
وَهَذَا الْحَدِيثُ لا نَعْلَمُهُ يُرْوَى عَن رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيه وَسَلَّم مِنْ وَجْهٍ مِنَ الْوُجُوهِ بِهَذَا اللَّفْظِ إلاَّ مِنْ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ وَإِسْنَادُهُ حَسَنٌ
We do not know that this hadith has been narrated from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in any way with this wording, except from this way, with this chain of transmission. The chain of transmission is Hasan. (Musnad al-Bazar).
In this Hadith narration we find explicit mention of receiving 500 times the reward for praying in Masjid al-Aqsa. Which is different to the above narration as that alludes to 250 times the reward. For those familiar with Hadith, this is not surprising. It is common for different rewards to be mentioned for the same deed. Since reward can be increased due to sincerity and perfection.
Reconciliation
As both of the Hadith narrations above are strong, we will accept them both. Therefore, we can say the reward for someone praying in Masjid al-Aqsa is between 250 and 500 times the reward of praying in another Masjid. The reward given to an individual may increase or decrease depending upon the purity of intention and spiritual engagement.
If a person is more sincere then he or she will receive greater reward. Similarly, if someone is more present and less distracted during worship, then again the reward will be increased. This concept is not unique to Masjid al-Aqsa. Rather it is a general rule regarding worship, the greater the sincerity and focus, the greater the reward.
In the Hadith narration below we find the general principle of discrepancy in reward for the same good deed. A person may have ten rewards or up to seven hundred multiples. This is why it is important for Muslims to renew and purify intentions when engaging in worship. It is also important to worship Allah (Most High) with due focus and presence of soul.
إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَتَبَ الحَسَنَاتِ وَالسَّيِّئَاتِ ثُمَّ بَيَّنَ ذَلِكَ، فَمَنْ هَمَّ بِحَسَنَةٍ فَلَمْ يَعْمَلْهَا كَتَبَهَا اللَّهُ لَهُ عِنْدَهُ حَسَنَةً كَامِلَةً، فَإِنْ هُوَ هَمَّ بِهَا فَعَمِلَهَا كَتَبَهَا اللَّهُ لَهُ عِنْدَهُ عَشْرَ حَسَنَاتٍ إِلَى سَبْعِ مِائَةِ ضِعْفٍ إِلَى أَضْعَافٍ كَثِيرَةٍ
Indeed, Allah (Most High) decreed good deeds and bad deeds. Then He (Most High) explained it. So whoever intends to perform a good deed but is unable, Allah (Most High) will record it for him as a complete good deed. However, if he intended it and performed it, Allah (Most High) will record it for him as ten good deeds, up to seven hundred multiples, up to many multiples. (Sahih al-Bukhari, 6491).
And Allah Most High Knows Best.
–Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (06.02.24)
-With special thanks to Sidi Yusuf Asghar for assisting with nusoos translation
