Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: The farther one is from the mosque, the greater will be his reward.

Hazrat Aswad bin Alaa says that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: When any one of you leaves his house with the intention of going to the mosque, then for every step, one good deed is written for him and one sin is erased.

Hazrat Jabir narrates that our houses were far from the mosque, so we intended to move closer to Masjid Nabawi and the presence of the Prophet (peace be upon him). When we mentioned this to the Prophet (peace be upon him), he said: Do not do so; come from where you live. Whenever a believing person performs ablution well and then sets out with the intention of going to the mosque, for every step he takes, a good deed is written for him and a sin is forgiven.

Hazrat Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Banu Salamah intended to leave their area and build houses near the mosque. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) disliked that Madinah should become crowded and said, "O Banu Salamah! Do you not believe in the reward for your steps?" They replied, "Why not." Then they decided to remain in their own place.

Hasan narrates that the houses of Banu Salamah were far from the mosque. They decided to move closer to the mosque so that they could pray with the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. Upon this, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said to them, "O Banu Salamah! Do you not wish to earn reward for your footsteps?" They replied, "Why not?" Then they remained in their same houses.

Hazrat Ubayy bin Ka'b narrates that there was a man in Madinah, and in my opinion, among those who faced the Qiblah and prayed, his house was the farthest from the mosque. Someone said to him, "You should get a donkey so that during rain and darkness you can ride it to the mosque." He replied, "I do not like at all that my house should be adjacent to the mosque." This matter was mentioned to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and he himself also presented himself and said, "Are my steps to and from the mosque also written in my book of deeds?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Allah has granted you this as well, and in addition, whatever deed in which you hoped for reward, Allah has granted you that too."

Ibn Abi Laila says that when the Banu Salamah intended to move their houses closer to the mosque, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said to them that for every step a good deed is written.