The most eminent among human beings (as a recipient of) reward (is one) who lives farthest away, and who has to walk the farthest distance, and he who waits for the prayer to observe it along with the Imam, his reward is greater than one who prays (alone) and then goes to sleep. In the narration of Abu Kuraib (the words are):" (He waits) till he prays along with the Imam in congregation."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِنَّ أَعْظَمَ النَّاسِ أَجْرًا فِي الصَّلاَةِ أَبْعَدُهُمْ إِلَيْهَا مَمْشًى فَأَبْعَدُهُمْ وَالَّذِي يَنْتَظِرُ الصَّلاَةَ حَتَّى يُصَلِّيَهَا مَعَ الإِمَامِ أَعْظَمُ أَجْرًا مِنَ الَّذِي يُصَلِّيهَا ثُمَّ يَنَامُ وَفِي رِوَايَةِ أَبِي كُرَيْبٍ حَتَّى يُصَلِّيَهَا مَعَ الإِمَامِ فِي جَمَاعَةٍ  

There was a man, and I do not know of any other man, whose house was farther than his from the mosque and he never missed the prayer (in congregation). It was said to him or I said to him: It you were to buy a donkey you could ride upon it In the dark nights and in the burning sand. He said: I do not like my house to be situated by the side of the mosque, for I (eagerly) desire that my steps towards the mosque and back from it, should be recorded when I return to my family. Upon this the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Allah has gathered all (rewards) for you.  

كَانَ رَجُلٌ لاَ أَعْلَمُ رَجُلاً أَبْعَدَ مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ مِنْهُ وَكَانَ لاَ تُخْطِئُهُ صَلاَةٌ قَالَ فَقِيلَ لَهُ أَوْ قُلْتُ لَهُ لَوِ اشْتَرَيْتَ حِمَارًا تَرْكَبُهُ فِي الظَّلْمَاءِ وَفِي الرَّمْضَاءِ قَالَ مَا يَسُرُّنِي أَنَّ مَنْزِلِي إِلَى جَنْبِ الْمَسْجِدِ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ يُكْتَبَ لِي مَمْشَاىَ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ وَرُجُوعِي إِذَا رَجَعْتُ إِلَى أَهْلِي فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَدْ جَمَعَ اللَّهُ لَكَ ذَلِكَ كُلَّهُ  

This hadith has been transmitted by Taimi with the same chain of narrators.  

عَنِ التَّيْمِيِّ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ بِنَحْوِهِ  

There was a person among the Ansar whose house was situated at the farthest end of Medina, but he never in missed any prayer along with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. We felt pity for him and said to him: O, so and so, had you bought a donkey it would have saved you from the burning sand and would have saved you from the reptiles of the earth. He said: Listen I by Allah, I do not like my house to be situated by the side of Muhammad ﷺ. I took (these words of his) ill and came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and informed him about (these words). He (the Holy Prophet) called him and he said exactly like that (which he had mentioned to Ubbay b. Ka'b), but made a mention of this (also) that he wanted a reward for his steps. Upon this the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: In fact for you is the reward which you expect.  

كَانَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ بَيْتُهُ أَقْصَى بَيْتٍ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ فَكَانَ لاَ تُخْطِئُهُ الصَّلاَةُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ فَتَوَجَّعْنَا لَهُ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ يَا فُلاَنُ لَوْ أَنَّكَ اشْتَرَيْتَ حِمَارًا يَقِيكَ مِنَ الرَّمْضَاءِ وَيَقِيكَ مِنْ هَوَامِّ الأَرْضِ قَالَ أَمَا وَاللَّهِ مَا أُحِبُّ أَنَّ بَيْتِي مُطَنَّبٌ بِبَيْتِ مُحَمَّدٍ ﷺ قَالَ فَحَمَلْتُ بِهِ حِمْلاً حَتَّى أَتَيْتُ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ قَالَ فَدَعَاهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ وَذَكَرَ لَهُ أَنَّهُ يَرْجُو فِي أَثَرِهِ الأَجْرَ فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ إِنَّ لَكَ مَا احْتَسَبْتَ  

A hadith like this has been narrated by 'Asim with the same chain of transmitters.  

عَنْ عَاصِمٍ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ نَحْوَهُ  

Our houses were situated far away from the mosque; we, therefore, decided to sell our houses so that we may be able to come near the mosque. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade us (to do so) and said: There is for every step (towards the mosque) a degree (of reward) for you.  

أَنْ نَبِيعَ بُيُوتَنَا فَنَقْتَرِبَ مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ فَنَهَانَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ إِنَّ لَكُمْ بِكُلِّ خُطْوَةٍ دَرَجَةً  

There were some plots vacant around the mosque. Banu Salama decided to shift (to this land) and come near the mosque. This (news) reached the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and he said to them (Banu Salama): I have received (information) that you intend to shift near the mosque. They said: Yes, Messenger of Allah, we have taken this decision. Upon this he (the Holy Prophet) said: O Banu Salama, live in your houses, for your steps are recorded; live in your houses, for your steps are recorded.  

خَلَتِ الْبِقَاعُ حَوْلَ الْمَسْجِدِ فَأَرَادَ بَنُو سَلِمَةَ أَنْ يَنْتَقِلُوا إِلَى قُرْبِ الْمَسْجِدِ فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ إِنَّهُ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّكُمْ تُرِيدُونَ أَنْ تَنْتَقِلُوا قُرْبَ الْمَسْجِدِ قَالُوا نَعَمْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَدْ أَرَدْنَا ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ يَا بَنِي سَلِمَةَ دِيَارَكُمْ تُكْتَبْ آثَارُكُمْ دِيَارَكُمْ تُكْتَبْ آثَارُكُمْ  

O people of the Salama tribe, you better stay in your houses (where you are living), for your footsteps are recorded They said. We could not be more delighted even by shifting (near the mosque) as we were delighted (on hearing these words from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.  

وَالْبِقَاعُ خَالِيَةٌ فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا بَنِي سَلِمَةَ دِيَارَكُمْ تُكْتَبْ آثَارُكُمْ فَقَالُوا مَا كَانَ يَسُرُّنَا أَنَّا كُنَّا تَحَوَّلْنَا