Hadith Text

"Whoever prays in the Masjid of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) (that is good), for I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: 'One prayer offered there is better than a thousand prayers offered elsewhere, except the Masjid of the Ka'bah.'"

Source Reference

The Book of the Masjids

Sunan an-Nasa'i

Sunan an-Nasa'i 691

Scholarly Commentary

This noble hadith establishes the immense virtue of performing prayer in the Prophet's Mosque in Medina. The reward is multiplied a thousand-fold compared to prayers in other mosques, demonstrating the special status of this sacred space where the Prophet (ﷺ) established his community and where revelation descended.

The exception made for the Sacred Mosque in Mecca (Masjid al-Haram) indicates the hierarchy of sacred spaces in Islam. While the Prophet's Mosque holds tremendous virtue, the Masjid al-Haram remains superior due to its containing the Ka'bah, the first house of worship established for mankind.

This multiplication of reward applies to both obligatory and voluntary prayers, encouraging Muslims to visit and pray in these blessed locations. The wisdom behind this excellence lies in the historical and spiritual significance of these mosques as centers of Islamic guidance and revelation.

Juridical Rulings

The scholars agree that the multiplied reward applies to all prayers performed within the boundaries of the Prophet's Mosque, including its expansions throughout history.

Traveling specifically to Medina to pray in the Prophet's Mosque is a recommended act (mustahabb), though unlike Hajj or Umrah to Mecca, it is not an obligatory pilgrimage.

The thousand-fold reward represents the minimum multiplication, as some scholars hold that the reward may be even greater based on the sincerity and devotion of the worshipper.