The superiority of Makkah over Bayt al-Maqdis

Muhammad bin Umar (al-Waqidi) said: My father informed me, on the authority of Yahya bin Imran bin Uthman bin al-Arqam, who said: I know well the day when the idea (of taking this house) arose in the heart of Abu Ja'far (al-Mansur). He was performing sa'i between al-Safa and al-Marwah during a Hajj he performed, while we were on the roof of the house. He passed beneath us so closely that, had I wished to take off his cap, I could have done so, and he kept looking at us from the time he descended into the valley until he climbed up onto al-Safa. Then, when Muhammad bin Abdullah bin Hasan (al-Nafs al-Zakiyyah) rose in revolt in Madinah, Abdullah bin Uthman bin al-Arqam was among those who had pledged allegiance to him, though he did not go out with him. Abu Ja'far used this against him and wrote to his governor in Madinah to imprison him and put him in fetters. Then he sent a man from Kufah called Shihab bin Abd Rabb, and wrote with him to the governor that whatever this man said should be done. Shihab came to Abdullah bin Uthman in the prison, while he was an old man of more than eighty years and had grown weary of the fetters and the prison. Shihab said: "Would you like me to rescue you from this hardship, and you sell me the House of al-Arqam? For the Commander of the Faithful wants it. Perhaps, if you sell it to him, I may speak to him about you and he may pardon you." He said: "It is an endowment, but whatever right I have in it is his; however, my brothers and others are partners with me in it." Shihab said: "You are only responsible for yourself; give us your right and you will be free of it." So he had witnesses attest and wrote a deed of sale of his share for seventeen thousand dinars. Then Shihab pursued his brothers, and the abundance of money tempted them, so they too sold their shares. Thus the house came into the possession of Abu Ja'far and of those to whom he granted it as a fief. Then (the Caliph) al-Mahdi gave it to al-Khayzuran, the mother of Musa and Harun; she (re)built it, and it became known by her name. Then it came into the possession of Ja'far bin Musa al-Hadi. Then the associates of al-Shatawi and al-Adani lived in it. Then Ghassan bin Abbad bought most of it from the descendants of Ja'far bin Musa. As for the House of al-Arqam in Madinah, among Banu Zurayq, it was a land grant from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).

Muhammad bin Imran bin Hind narrates from his father that when death approached Sayyiduna al-Arqam bin Abi al-Arqam (may Allah be pleased with him), he left instructions that Sayyiduna Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him) should lead his funeral prayer. (At that time Marwan was the governor, and Sa'd was away from Madinah.) Marwan said: "Shall (the funeral of) a Companion of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) be held back for the sake of an absent man?" and he intended to lead the funeral prayer himself. But Abdullah bin al-Arqam prevented Marwan from doing so, and Banu Makhzum stood with him, and bitter words were exchanged between them. Then Sayyiduna Sa'd (may Allah be pleased with him) arrived and led the funeral prayer. This took place in the year 55 AH in Madinah, and Sayyiduna al-Arqam (may Allah be pleased with him) passed away at the age of somewhat over eighty years.

Uthman bin Abdullah bin al-Arqam narrates from his grandfather al-Arqam (may Allah be pleased with him), who was a Companion who fought at Badr, that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) stayed in his house at (Mount) al-Safa until the Muslims were complete at forty men; the last of them to accept Islam was Sayyiduna Umar bin al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him). When they became forty, they came out before the polytheists. Al-Arqam (may Allah be pleased with him) says: I came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) to bid him farewell, as I intended to travel to Bayt al-Maqdis (Jerusalem). The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) asked me: "Where do you intend to go?" I said: To Bayt al-Maqdis. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "What is taking you there? Is it some trade?" I said: No, rather I want to pray there. So the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "One prayer here (in Makkah) is better than a thousand prayers there."
This hadith is sahih al-isnad (authentic in its chain), but the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim) did not record it.

Uthman bin al-Arqam bin Abi al-Arqam narrates from his father that he said: On the day of Badr, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Put down whatever spoils of war you have with you." So Sayyiduna Abu Usayd al-Sa'idi (may Allah be pleased with him) lifted up the sword of Ibn A'idh al-Marzuban, and Sayyiduna al-Arqam bin Abi al-Arqam (may Allah be pleased with him) recognised it and said: "O Messenger of Allah, grant it to me." So he (peace and blessings be upon him) gave him that sword.
This hadith is sahih al-isnad (authentic in its chain), but the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim) did not record it.

Uthman bin al-Arqam bin Abi al-Arqam al-Makhzumi narrates from his father al-Arqam (may Allah be pleased with him), who was one of the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), that he said: the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The one who steps over the necks of people on Friday and separates between them is like one who drags his intestines in the Fire."