Fath al-Rabbani

Benefits: … It is narrated from Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah radi Allahu anhu that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “Whoever builds a mosque for Allah, even if it is like the nest of a sandgrouse or smaller, Allah will build for him a house in Paradise.” (Ibn Majah: 738) Certainly, such a small space is insufficient for prayer, therefore these words will be understood as hyperbole. The narration of Sayyiduna Jabir radi Allahu anhu supports this meaning, and it is also possible that this is a proverb, and what is meant is a very small mosque; from this, the listeners themselves can estimate the reward and merit of building a larger mosque. Another meaning that has been stated is that different people participate in the construction of a mosque, and some individuals’ donations are indeed equal to the value of the space of that bird’s nest, but Allah ta’ala values even such a small amount.