Hadith Commentary

This noble hadith establishes the exclusive merit of three mosques for which travel is specifically recommended: Masjid al-Haram in Makkah, Masjid al-Aqsa in Jerusalem, and the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah. These three mosques hold unique spiritual status in Islam, with prayers in them multiplied in reward.

Scholarly Interpretation

Imam Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani explains in Fath al-Bari that this hadith indicates the superiority of these three mosques over all others. The Sacred Mosque in Makkah holds primacy as the first house established for mankind. Masjid al-Aqsa was the first qibla and the site of the Prophet's Night Journey. The Prophet's Mosque contains his blessed grave and was established through his direct guidance.

Scholars clarify that this hadith does not prohibit travel to other mosques for learning, visiting relatives, or trade. Rather, it specifies that religious travel specifically for prayer is only recommended to these three sacred sites, emphasizing their unique spiritual status in Islamic tradition.

Legal Rulings

The majority of scholars hold that this hadith establishes a recommended (mustahabb) journey rather than an obligatory one. The Hanafi and Maliki schools emphasize that while these three mosques have special merit, visiting other mosques for prayer remains permissible and rewarded, though without the specific excellence mentioned here.