Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah

Saeed bin Abu Saeed Maqbari narrates that Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) was returning from Mount Tur when he met Sayyiduna Abu Basrah Jameel bin Basrah (may Allah be pleased with him). He said to him: If you had met me before going there, you would not have gone there, because I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: "Mounts should only be set out for three mosques: Al-Masjid Al-Haram, my mosque (i.e., Al-Masjid An-Nabawi), and Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The best (two) places to which one should undertake a journey are this mosque of mine and the Ancient House (i.e., the House of Allah)."

Abdullah bin Uthman bin Arqam narrates from his grandfather Sayyiduna Arqam (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: I came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). He (peace be upon him) asked me: "Where are you intending to go?" I said: To Bayt al-Maqdis. He (peace be upon him) then asked: "For the purpose of trade?" I said: No, my intention is to pray in Bayt al-Maqdis. He (peace be upon him) said: "Praying here (i.e., in Madinah) is a thousand times better than praying there (i.e., in Ilya)."