… Continued
3) Performing the Fajr prayer in congregation and staying in the mosque until sunrise to perform the Dhuha prayer:
Another righteous deed that substitutes for Hajj and ‘Umrah is performing the Fajr prayer in congregation and staying in the mosque, reciting Thikr until sunrise to perform the Dhuha prayer. The Prophet said: “Whoever prays the Fajr in congregation, then sits remembering Allah until the sun rises, then prays two Rak‘ahs, he will receive the rewards of performing complete Hajj and ‘Umrah - he repeated that thrice.” [At-Tirmithi] [Al-Albaani: Saheeh]
4) Attending the congregational prayers at the mosque and walking to the mosque to perform voluntary prayers:
The Prophet said: “Whoever walks to [perform] an obligatory prayer in congregation, it is like Hajj [in terms of rewards], and whoever walks to [perform] a voluntary prayer, it is like a voluntary ‘Umrah [in terms of rewards].” [Hasan] Walking to the mosque to perform Sunnah prayers such as the Dhuha prayer as mentioned in the version of Abu Daawood. Al-Munaawi said, “Whoever walks to [the mosque to] perform an obligatory prayer should hurry. Whoever walks to [perform] an obligatory prayer in congregation, will be rewarded for his walking with equal rewards to those of performing Hajj and whoever walks to [perform] a voluntary prayer, will receive the rewards of performing voluntary ‘Umrah, but not necessarily the exact equal.”
5) Performing prayers in Qubaa’ Mosque:
The Prophet said: “He who purifies himself at his home and comes to Masjid Qubaa’ and prays therein will have the reward like that of ‘Umrah.” [Ahmad, An-Nasaa’i and Al-Haakim] [Al-Albaani: Saheeh]
In addition, the Prophet said: “Prayer in the mosque of Qubaa’ is like ‘‘Umrah [in terms of rewards].’” He also said: “Whoever goes to the mosque of the Banu ‘Amr ibn ‘Awf, the mosque of Qubaa’, with one intention that is to pray therein, will have a reward like that of ‘Umrah.”
‘Aa’ishah bint Sa‘d ibn Abi Waqqaas said, “I heard my father saying, ‘It is dearer to me to perform two Rak‘ahs in the Qubaa’ Mosque than visiting Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa twice. If people only knew the virtues of [praying in] the Qubaa’ Mosque, they would fight over it.’”
Performing prayers in the Qubaa’ Mosque does not entail traveling specifically for that purpose. However, when the Muslim visits the Masjid of the Prophet it is an act of the Sunnah (Prophetic tradition) to visit the Qubaa’ Masjid, where Allah The Exalted revealed to the Prophet the verse (what means): {Within it there are men who love to purify themselves; and Allah loves those who purify themselves.} [Quran 9:108] The Prophet said: “Allah is pleased with your purity, O people of Qubaa'.”
6) Attending the ‘Eed prayers (both ‘Eed Al-Adh-ha and ‘Eed Al-Fitr):
Ibn Rajab narrated that the Companion Mikhnaf ibn Sulaym said, “The reward for attending ‘Eed Al-Fitr prayer is equal to the reward of performing ‘Umrah and the reward for attending ‘Eed Al-Adh-ha Prayer is equal to that of performing Hajj.”
Ibn Rajab said, “A pious man saw a pilgrim who was heading towards Makkah. He said with eyes full of tears, ‘How weak I am! Let me follow your procession and I promise to be obedient to you as a slave.’ He took a deep breath and added, ‘This is the sorrow and heartbreak of a man who cannot go to the Ka’bah; how will the sorrow and heartbreak of the man who cannot reach the Lord of the Ka’bah be?’”
Al-Haafith ibn Rajab said, “O brothers, if you were prevented from performing Hajj this year, turn inward and exercise self-restraint.”
… To be continued
Righteous Deeds with the Same Reward as Hajj and ‘Umrah - III