Darussalam · Volume 1
(4) The Chapters On TheMosques And TheCongregationsSunan Ibn Majah Darussalam English translation
الحديث: 753 ¦ الجزء: 1 ¦ الصفحة: 248
Source no. 753 · Volume 2 · Page 325
Sahih
صحيح تخريج فقه السيرة (٨٢)
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753. It was narrated that Abu Dharr Al-Ghifari said: "I said: 'O Messenger of Allâh! Which mosque was built first? He said: 'Al-Masjid Al-Harâm (in Makkah).' I said: 'Then which?' He said: 'Then Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa (in Jerusalem).' I said: 'How many years between them?' He said: 'Forty years, but the whole earth is a mosque for you, so pray wherever you are when the time for prayer comes.'" (Sahih)
753 - حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مَيْمُونٍ الرَّقِّيُّ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الْأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ التَّيْمِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ الْغِفَارِيِّ، قَالَ قُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَيُّ مَسْجِدٍ وُضِعَ أَوَّلُ؟ قَالَ: «الْمَسْجِدُ الْحَرَامُ» قَالَ قُلْتُ: ثُمَّ أَيٌّ؟ قَالَ: «ثُمَّ الْمَسْجِدُ الْأَقْصَى» قُلْتُ: كَمْ بَيْنَهُمَا؟ قَالَ: «أَرْبَعُونَ عَامًا، ثُمَّ الْأَرْضُ لَكَ مُصَلًّى، فَصَلِّ حَيْثُ مَا أَدْرَكَتْكَ الصَّلَاةُ»
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The reference here is to the building of the first mosque ever built in history, which was accomplished at the hands of Ādam ﷺ. As for the Prophets Ibrāhīm ﷺ and Ismā'īl ﷺ, they rebuilt Al-Masjid Al-Harām after old marks had been erased. Similarly, Sulaimān ﷺ was also not the first to build Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa. This confirms the superiority of these two mosque. Apart from these two mosque the only other mosque on earth for which we are allowed to undertake an exclusive journey is the Prophet's Mosque at Al-Madīnah. Since even setting out on a journey exclusively to visit any mosque (except the three mentioned above) is prohibited, the situation of those who undertake journeys to visit the graves of 'holy men' etc, can very well be judged. Visits to the graves are permitted, but only to draw lessons about the impending death and the life in the Hereafter. 'Pray wherever you are' means that except for the three mosques mentioned above, all other mosques are equal in rank, and we can pray anywhere we like.