Bukhari

Hadith Commentary:
The Muslims who lived in the vicinity of Madinah desired to reside within the city near the Prophet’s Mosque.
However, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) did not permit this and said that the farther you come walking to attend the congregational prayer here, every single step will be counted among your good deeds.
In the noble verse of Surah Ya-Sin:
﴿إِنَّا نَحْنُ نُحْيِي الْمَوْتَىٰ وَنَكْتُبُ مَا قَدَّمُوا وَآثَارَهُمْ﴾
Allah has stated this general principle that every step a person takes is also recorded.
If the step is for a good deed, it will be written among the good deeds, and if someone takes a step for an evil deed, it will be written among the evil deeds.
The statement of Mujahid has been narrated in a connected chain by ‘Abd ibn Humaid.

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
The dwellings of the tribe of Banu Salamah were located near Mount Sala’, at a distance of approximately one mile from the Prophet’s Mosque, as is stated by Jabir bin Abdullah (radi Allahu anhu) that our houses were far from the Prophet’s Mosque. We intended to sell them and build our houses near the mosque so that coming and going for prayer would be easier. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) forbade them from this action and said that for every step you take, your rank will be raised by one degree. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) forbade this because there was a risk that the borders of Madinah Munawwarah would become insecure as a result. And the additional benefit of earning good deeds for each step was something the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) made them aware of, so they abandoned their intention and decided that they would not leave that place to settle near the mosque. (Fath al-Bari: 2/183)

(2)
The narration from Imam Mujahid has been reported with a connected chain by the hadith scholar ‘Abd bin Humaid. Imam Bukhari (rahimahullah) presented this narration to indicate that the aforementioned incident of Banu Salamah is the reason for the revelation (sha’n nuzul) of these verses, as Ibn Abbas (radi Allahu anhu) has explicitly stated. (Sunan Ibn Majah, Kitab al-Masajid wal-Jama‘at, Hadith: 785)

(3)
From this hadith, it is understood that the farther a person walks to perform the congregational prayer, the greater the reward and merit he will receive. Thus, it is mentioned in the hadith that an Ansari used to walk from afar to join the congregation in the Prophet’s Mosque. Someone advised him to buy a mount so that coming and going would be easier. He replied that he hoped for reward from Allah for walking and for each step he took. When this was mentioned to the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), he said: “You will certainly receive reward according to your intention.” (Sunan Ibn Majah, Kitab al-Masajid wal-Jama‘at, Hadith: 783) Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) writes that a worshipper living near the mosque, if he comes with small steps, cannot be equal in reward and merit to the one who comes from afar. (Fath al-Bari: 2/183)

Hadith Commentary:

The meaning intended by the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was that the population of Madinah should remain established from all sides and continue to flourish, so that awe may be cast upon the disbelievers and hypocrites. Imam Bukhari (rahimahullah) wishes to clarify that abandoning residence in Madinah is not favored in the view of the Shariah; rather, it is a true felicity for that Muslim who is able to reside there with peace and contentment.

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) migrated from Makkah al-Mukarramah to Madinah al-Tayyibah, but he made Madinah al-Tayyibah his true abode and homeland. He strove so much for its population and development that he became entirely devoted to it. His foremost objective was that its population should remain established from all sides and that it should continue to prosper, so that awe would be cast upon the disbelievers and hypocrites.

(2)
The purpose of Imam al-Bukhari (rahimahullah) with this chapter heading and the presented hadith is to show that abandoning residence in Madinah al-Tayyibah is not desirable in the view of the Shari‘ah; rather, it is the very felicity of that Muslim who is able to reside there with peace and contentment. Accordingly, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) disliked the migration of Banu Salamah for this very reason. However, if one must leave residence in Madinah al-Tayyibah for the sake of inviting to the religion and the propagation and dissemination of Islam, then there is no harm in this, as many of the noble Companions (radi Allahu anhum) left Madinah al-Tayyibah for the purpose of da‘wah and tabligh.

(3)
Even while living outside of Madinah, harboring love for it in one’s heart is itself an act of faith.

Commentary:
(1)
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) forbade them from taking up residence near the Prophet’s Mosque so that the boundaries of the city would remain secure and the enemy would not be able to launch a sudden attack.

(2)
The intention of Banu Salamah was also virtuous, but not changing their place of residence was of collective benefit to the Muslims. From this, it is understood that collective benefit takes precedence over individual interest, provided that no major harm results from it.

(3)
Those who live far from the mosque are also required to participate in the congregational prayer (salah bi’l-jama‘ah); otherwise, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) would have permitted them to pray in their homes.