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الفتح الربانی
Fath al-Rabbani
أبواب المساجدChapters on Mosques
بَابُ أَوَّلِ مَسْجِدٍ وُضِعَ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَفَضْلِ بِنَاءِ الْمَسَاجِدِChapter on the First Mosque Established on Earth and the Virtue of Building Mosques
Hadith 1317
اُردوEn
عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: ((مَنْ بَنَى لِلَّهِ مَسْجِدًا يُذْكَرُ فِيهِ اسْمُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى بَنَى اللَّهُ لَهُ بِهِ بَيْتًا فِي الْجَنَّةِ))
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Whoever builds a mosque for Allah in which Allah is remembered, Allah will build for him a house in Paradise in return.
Brief Explanation
Benefits: … The house in Paradise for the one who builds a mosque will be like the mosque he built. What is meant by “like” (mithl) in this hadith? Various answers have been given:
1. The similarity is intended in honor, virtue, and esteem, meaning that the mosque is an honorable house, and likewise, its reward will also be an honorable house.
2. The similarity is intended in the designation of “house,” meaning just as he built a house of Allah, likewise Allah will grant him a house. As for the nature, quality, and quantity, there is no similarity between the things of Paradise and those of this world, except in names.
3. The similarity refers to the superiority of the mosque over worldly houses, meaning just as the mosque is superior to all other houses in this world, likewise the house of such a person in Paradise will be lofty and superior.
Hafiz Ibn Hajar said: The word “mithl” (like) has two usages: (1) For absolute individuals, as in the statement of Allah, the Exalted: {فَقَالُوْا أَنُؤْمِنُ لِبَشَرَیْنِ مِثْلِنَا} and (2) for conformity, as Allah, the Exalted, said: {أُمَمٌ أَمْثَالُکُمْ}. If the first meaning is considered, then there could be many buildings, and this also answers the objection regarding the tenfold reward mentioned for “mithlah.” … The best answer is that the similarity refers to quantity, but it is evident that in quality, the house in Paradise will be far superior, because there are many houses that are better than dozens or even hundreds of other houses. Or it can be said that the similarity refers to the kind of building, meaning whoever built a house for Allah, Allah, the Exalted, will grant such a person a house in return. (Fath al-Bari: 1/718)
1. The similarity is intended in honor, virtue, and esteem, meaning that the mosque is an honorable house, and likewise, its reward will also be an honorable house.
2. The similarity is intended in the designation of “house,” meaning just as he built a house of Allah, likewise Allah will grant him a house. As for the nature, quality, and quantity, there is no similarity between the things of Paradise and those of this world, except in names.
3. The similarity refers to the superiority of the mosque over worldly houses, meaning just as the mosque is superior to all other houses in this world, likewise the house of such a person in Paradise will be lofty and superior.
Hafiz Ibn Hajar said: The word “mithl” (like) has two usages: (1) For absolute individuals, as in the statement of Allah, the Exalted: {فَقَالُوْا أَنُؤْمِنُ لِبَشَرَیْنِ مِثْلِنَا} and (2) for conformity, as Allah, the Exalted, said: {أُمَمٌ أَمْثَالُکُمْ}. If the first meaning is considered, then there could be many buildings, and this also answers the objection regarding the tenfold reward mentioned for “mithlah.” … The best answer is that the similarity refers to quantity, but it is evident that in quality, the house in Paradise will be far superior, because there are many houses that are better than dozens or even hundreds of other houses. Or it can be said that the similarity refers to the kind of building, meaning whoever built a house for Allah, Allah, the Exalted, will grant such a person a house in return. (Fath al-Bari: 1/718)
