عن جابر رضي الله عنه قال‏:‏ خلت البقاع حول المسجد فأراد بنو سلمة أن ينتقلوا قرب المسجد، فبلغ ذلك النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال لهم‏:‏ بلغني أنكم تريدون أن تنتقلوا قرب المسجد‏؟‏ قالوا‏:‏ نعم يا رسول الله قد أردنا ذلك، فقال‏:‏ ‏”‏ بني سلمة دياركم تكتب آثاركم، دياركم تكتب آثاركم‏ فقالوا‏:‏ ما يسرنا أنا كنا تحولنا

وفي رواية: إن بكلِّ خَطْوَة درجة

Jabir RA reported: There were some plots of land lying vacant around the mosque. The people of Banu Salamah decided to move to this land and come nearer to the mosque. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) heard about it and said to them, “I have heard that you intend to move near the mosque.” They said: “Yes, O Messenger of Allah! We have decided to do that.” Thereupon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “O Banu Salamah! Stay in your houses, because your footprints (when you come to the mosque) will be recorded.” He said this twice. They said: “We would not have liked it, had we moved near the mosque.” [Muslim].

Another narration has: “Every step that you take will elevate you by one degree.”

Bukhari also narrated a similar Hadith from Anas RA.

The tribe of Banu Salamah were a branch of the Anṣar and they lived at a distance from Masjid al-Nabawi. The Messenger of Allah encouraged them to stay where they were because of the great rewards for every step taken while walking to and from the masjid.

One is encouraged to perform Salaah in congregation even if one resides far from the masjid. We should not use the excuse of distance prevent us from attending the Masjid regularly.

While walking to and from the masjid, one should engage in dhikr, remove obstacles from the path, greet people and do good deeds to supplement one’s rewards.

EASY GOOD DEED – Respect of Elders

Although piety and knowledge are the true attributes of greatness in Islam, the youngsters have been enjoined to give due respect to their elders.

Our Prophet ﷺ went to the extent of saying:

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ‏:‏ مَنْ لَمْ يَرْحَمْ صَغِيرَنَا، وَيَعْرِفْ حَقَّ كَبِيرِنَا، فَلَيْسَ مِنَّا

Abu Hurayrah RA reported that the Prophet ﷺ said, “Anyone who does not show mercy to our children nor acknowledge the right of our old people is not one of us.” [Al-Adab ul-Mufrad]

Similar wordings are found in other Hadith.

لَيْسَ مِنَّا مَنْ لَمْ يَعْرِفْ حَقَّ كَبِيرِنَا، وَيَرْحَمْ صَغِيرَنَا

He is not from us, who does not acknowledge the right of our old people nor show mercy to our children.

Grey-haired folk have been specially indicated as objects of our respect in the Hadith.

Abu Musa Ashari RA relates that our Prophet ﷺ said:

إن من إجلال الله تعالى إكرام ذي الشيبة المسلم، وحامل القرآن غير الغالي فيه، والجافي عنه وإكرام ذي السلطان المقسط

“It is out of reverence to Allah in respecting an aged Muslim, and the one who commits the Qur’an to memory and does not exaggerate pronouncing its letters nor forgets it after memorizing, and to respect the just ruler”. [Abu Dawud, who classified it as Hadith Hasan].

Another Hadith says:

Anas ibn Malik RA reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “No youth honours his elders but that Allah will appoint someone to honour him in his old age.” [Tirmidhi – Hasan (fair) according to Al-Suyuti]

It was a custom of our eternally blessed Prophet ﷺ that if a younger member of a delegation began to speak, the holy Prophet ﷺ would ask him to let the elders speak first. This shows the great emphasis, laid by our blessed Prophet ﷺ upon respect for elders which is highly merited and rewarded.