حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَأَبُو كُرَيْبٍ جَمِيعًا عَنْ أَبِي مُعَاوِيَةَ، - قَالَ أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، - عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ صَلاَةُ الرَّجُلِ فِي جَمَاعَةٍ تَزِيدُ عَلَى صَلاَتِهِ فِي بَيْتِهِ وَصَلاَتِهِ فِي سُوقِهِ بِضْعًا وَعِشْرِينَ دَرَجَةً وَذَلِكَ أَنَّ أَحَدَهُمْ إِذَا تَوَضَّأَ فَأَحْسَنَ الْوُضُوءَ ثُمَّ أَتَى الْمَسْجِدَ لاَ يَنْهَزُهُ إِلاَّ الصَّلاَةُ لاَ يُرِيدُ إِلاَّ الصَّلاَةَ فَلَمْ يَخْطُ خَطْوَةً إِلاَّ رُفِعَ لَهُ بِهَا دَرَجَةٌ وَحُطَّ عَنْهُ بِهَا خَطِيئَةٌ حَتَّى يَدْخُلَ الْمَسْجِدَ فَإِذَا دَخَلَ الْمَسْجِدَ كَانَ فِي الصَّلاَةِ مَا كَانَتِ الصَّلاَةُ هِيَ تَحْبِسُهُ وَالْمَلاَئِكَةُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى أَحَدِكُمْ مَا دَامَ فِي مَجْلِسِهِ الَّذِي صَلَّى فِيهِ يَقُولُونَ اللَّهُمَّ ارْحَمْهُ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ اللَّهُمَّ تُبْ عَلَيْهِ مَا لَمْ يُؤْذِ فِيهِ مَا لَمْ يُحْدِثْ فِيهِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏
Translation
Abu Huraira reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Anyone amongst you who sat in a place of worship waiting for the prayer is in prayer and his ablution is not broken, the angels invoke blessing upon him (in these words): O Allah! pardon him. O Allah! have mercy upon him.

Comment

The Book of Mosques and Places of Prayer - Sahih Muslim 649k

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Anyone amongst you who sat in a place of worship waiting for the prayer is in prayer and his ablution is not broken, the angels invoke blessing upon him (in these words): O Allah! pardon him. O Allah! have mercy upon him.

Scholarly Commentary

This noble hadith from Sahih Muslim reveals the immense virtue of sitting in the mosque with pure intention awaiting the prayer. The scholars explain that such a person is considered in a state of continuous prayer (ibadah), earning reward as if actually performing salah.

The preservation of ablution (wudu) is emphasized, indicating the spiritual purity required for this elevated state. The angels' continuous supplication for divine forgiveness and mercy demonstrates Allah's boundless generosity toward those who honor His houses of worship.

This teaching encourages Muslims to frequent mosques and maintain ritual purity, transforming waiting time into worship and attracting celestial blessings through sincere devotion to Allah.