I said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Which mosque was first built on the surface of the earth?" He said, "Al- Masjid-ul-,Haram (in Mecca)." I said, "Which was built next?" He replied "The mosque of Al-Aqsa ( in Jerusalem) ." I said, "What was the period of construction between the two?" He said, "Forty years." He added, "Wherever (you may be, and) the prayer time becomes due, perform the prayer there, for the best thing is to do so (i.e. to offer the prayers in time).

قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَىُّ مَسْجِدٍ وُضِعَ فِي الأَرْضِ أَوَّلُ قَالَ الْمَسْجِدُ الْحَرَامُ قَالَ قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَىٌّ قَالَ الْمَسْجِدُ الأَقْصَى قُلْتُ كَمْ كَانَ بَيْنَهُمَا قَالَ أَرْبَعُونَ سَنَةً ثُمَّ أَيْنَمَا أَدْرَكَتْكَ الصَّلاَةُ بَعْدُ فَصَلِّهْ فَإِنَّ الْفَضْلَ فِيهِ

I said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Which mosque was built first?" He replied, "Al-Masjid-ul-Haram." I asked, "Which (was built) next?" He replied, "Al-Masjid-ul-Aqs-a (i.e. Jerusalem)." I asked, "What was the period in between them?" He replied, "Forty (years)." He then added, "Wherever the time for the prayer comes upon you, perform the prayer, for all the earth is a place of worshipping for you."

قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَىُّ مَسْجِدٍ وُضِعَ أَوَّلُ قَالَ الْمَسْجِدُ الْحَرَامُ قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَىٌّ قَالَ ثُمَّ الْمَسْجِدُ الأَقْصَى قُلْتُ كَمْ كَانَ بَيْنَهُمَا قَالَ أَرْبَعُونَ ثُمَّ قَالَ حَيْثُمَا أَدْرَكَتْكَ الصَّلاَةُ فَصَلِّ وَالأَرْضُ لَكَ مَسْجِدٌ

I said: Messenger of Allah, which mosque was set up first on the earth? He said: Al-Masjid al-Haram (the sacred). I (again) said: Then which next? He said: It was the Masjid Aqsa. I (again) said: How long the space of time (between their setting up)? He (the Holy Prophet) said: It was forty years. And whenever the time comes for prayer, pray there, for that is a mosque; and in the hadith transmitted by Abu Kamil (the words are):" Whenever time comes for prayer, pray, for that is a mosque (for you)."

قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَىُّ مَسْجِدٍ وُضِعَ فِي الأَرْضِ أَوَّلُ قَالَ الْمَسْجِدُ الْحَرَامُ قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَىٌّ قَالَ الْمَسْجِدُ الأَقْصَى قُلْتُ كَمْ بَيْنَهُمَا قَالَ أَرْبَعُونَ سَنَةً وَأَيْنَمَا أَدْرَكَتْكَ الصَّلاَةُ فَصَلِّ فَهُوَ مَسْجِدٌ وَفِي حَدِيثِ أَبِي كَامِلٍ ثُمَّ حَيْثُمَا أَدْرَكَتْكَ الصَّلاَةُ فَصَلِّهْ فَإِنَّهُ مَسْجِدٌ

I used to read the Qur'an with my father in the vestibule (before the door of the mosque). When I recited the ayat (verses) concerning prostration, he prostrated himself. I said to him: Father, do you prostrate yourself in the path? He said: I heard Abu Dharr saying: I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about the mosque that was first set up on the earth. He said: Masjid Harim. I said: Then which next? He said: The Masjid al-Aqsa. I said: How long is the space of time between the two? He said: Forty years. He (then) further said: The earth is a mosque for you, so wherever you are at the time of prayer, pray there.

كُنْتُ أَقْرَأُ عَلَى أَبِي الْقُرْآنَ فِي السُّدَّةِ فَإِذَا قَرَأْتُ السَّجْدَةَ سَجَدَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ يَا أَبَتِ أَتَسْجُدُ فِي الطَّرِيقِ قَالَ إِنِّي سَمِعْتُ أَبَا ذَرٍّ يَقُولُ سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنْ أَوَّلِ مَسْجِدٍ وُضِعَ فِي الأَرْضِ قَالَ الْمَسْجِدُ الْحَرَامُ قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَىٌّ قَالَ الْمَسْجِدُ الأَقْصَى قُلْتُ كَمْ بَيْنَهُمَا قَالَ أَرْبَعُونَ عَامًا ثُمَّ الأَرْضُ لَكَ مَسْجِدٌ فَحَيْثُمَا أَدْرَكَتْكَ الصَّلاَةُ فَصَلِّ

"I used to recite Qur'an to my father on the road, and if I recited a verse in which prostration was required, he would prostrate. I said: 'O my father, do you prostrate on the street?' He said: 'I heard Abu Dharr say: "I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: 'Which Masjid was built first?' He said: 'Al-Masjid Al-Haram.' [1] I said: 'Then which?' He said: 'Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa.' [2] I said: 'How long was there between them?' He said: 'Forty years. And the earth is a Masjid (or a place of prostration) for you, so wherever you are when the time for prayer comes, pray.'" [1] In Makkah. [2] "Furthest Masjid", meaning the Masjid in Jerulsalem.

كُنْتُ أَقْرَأُ عَلَى أَبِي الْقُرْآنَ فِي السِّكَّةِ فَإِذَا قَرَأْتُ السَّجْدَةَ سَجَدَ فَقُلْتُ يَا أَبَتِ أَتَسْجُدُ فِي الطَّرِيقِ فَقَالَ إِنِّي سَمِعْتُ أَبَا ذَرٍّ يَقُولُ سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَىُّ مَسْجِدٍ وُضِعَ أَوَّلاً قَالَ الْمَسْجِدُ الْحَرَامُ قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَىُّ قَالَ الْمَسْجِدُ الأَقْصَى قُلْتُ وَكَمْ بَيْنَهُمَا قَالَ أَرْبَعُونَ عَامًا وَالأَرْضُ لَكَ مَسْجِدٌ فَحَيْثُمَا أَدْرَكْتَ الصَّلاَةَ فَصَلِّ

"I said: 'O Messenger of Allah! Which mosque was built first?' He said: 'Al-Masjid Al-Haram (in Makkah).' I said: 'Then which?' He said: 'then Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa (in Jerusalem).' I said: 'How many years between them?' He said: 'Forty years, but the whole earth is a mosque for you, so pray wherever you are when the time for prayer comes.'"

قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَىُّ مَسْجِدٍ وُضِعَ أَوَّلُ قَالَ الْمَسْجِدُ الْحَرَامُ قَالَ قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَىٌّ قَالَ ثُمَّ الْمَسْجِدُ الأَقْصَى قُلْتُ كَمْ بَيْنَهُمَا قَالَ أَرْبَعُونَ عَامًا ثُمَّ الأَرْضُ لَكَ مُصَلًّى فَصَلِّ حَيْثُ مَا أَدْرَكَتْكَ الصَّلاَةُ

"I said: 'O Messenger of Allah! Which mosque was built first?' He said: 'Al-Masjid Al-Haram (in Makkah).' I said: 'Then which?' He said: 'then Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa (in Jerusalem).' I said: 'How many years between them?' He said: 'Forty years, but the whole earth is a mosque for you, so pray wherever you are when the time for prayer comes.'" (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 753)

سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ أَيُّ مَسْجِدٍ وُضِعَ فِي الْأَرْضِ أَوَّلُ؟ قَالَ الْمَسْجِدُ الْحَرَامُ قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَيٌّ؟ قَالَ ثُمَّ الْمَسْجِدُ الْأَقْصَى قُلْتُ كَمْ بَيْنَهُمَا؟ قَالَ أَرْبَعُونَ سَنَةً قُلْتُثُمَّ أَيٌّ؟ قَالَ ثُمَّ حَيْثُمَا أَدْرَكْتَ الصَّلَاةَ فَصَلِّ فَكُلُّهَا مَسْجِدٌ

"I said: 'O Messenger of Allah! Which mosque was built first?' He said: 'Al-Masjid Al-Haram (in Makkah).' I said: 'Then which?' He said: 'then Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa (in Jerusalem).' I said: 'How many years between them?' He said: 'Forty years, but the whole earth is a mosque for you, so pray wherever you are when the time for prayer comes.'" (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 753)

قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَيُّ مَسْجِدٍ وُضِعَ أَوَّلُ؟قَالَ الْمَسْجِدُ الْحَرَامُ قَالَ قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَيٌّ؟ قَالَ ثُمَّ الْمَسْجِدُ الْأَقْصَى قَالَ قُلْتُ كَمْ بَيْنَهُمَا؟ قَالَ أَرْبَعُونَ سَنَةً ثُمَّ أَيْنَمَا أَدْرَكَتْكَ الصَّلَاةُ فَصَلِّ فَهُوَ مَسْجِدٌ

"I said: 'O Messenger of Allah! Which mosque was built first?' He said: 'Al-Masjid Al-Haram (in Makkah).' I said: 'Then which?' He said: 'then Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa (in Jerusalem).' I said: 'How many years between them?' He said: 'Forty years, but the whole earth is a mosque for you, so pray wherever you are when the time for prayer comes.'" (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 753)

قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَيُّ مَسْجِدٍ وُضِعَ فِي الْأَرْضِ أَوَّلُ؟ قَالَ الْمَسْجِدُ الْحَرَامُ قَالَ قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَيُّ؟ قَالَ ثُمَّ الْمَسْجِدُ الْأَقْصَى قَالَ أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ يَعْنِي بَيْتَ الْمَقْدِسِ قَالَ قُلْتُ كَمْ بَيْنَهُمَا؟ قَالَ أَرْبَعُونَ سَنَةً وَأَيْنَمَا أَدْرَكَتْكَ الصَّلَاةُ فَصَلِّ فَإِنَّهُ مَسْجِدٌ

"I said: 'O Messenger of Allah! Which mosque was built first?' He said: 'Al-Masjid Al-Haram (in Makkah).' I said: 'Then which?' He said: 'then Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa (in Jerusalem).' I said: 'How many years between them?' He said: 'Forty years, but the whole earth is a mosque for you, so pray wherever you are when the time for prayer comes.'" (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 753)

قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَيُّ مَسْجِدٍ وُضِعَ أَوَّلُ؟ فَقَالَ «الْمَسْجِدُ الْحَرَامُ ثُمَّ الْمَسْجِدُ الْأَقْصَى» قَالَ قُلْتُ كَمْ كَانَ بَيْنَهُمَا؟ قَالَ «كَانَ بَيْنَهُمَا أَرْبَعُونَ سَنَةً وَحَيْثُ مَا أَدْرَكَتْكَ الصَّلَاةُ فَصَلِّ فَثَمَّ مَسْجِدٌ»

"I said: 'O Messenger of Allah! Which mosque was built first?' He said: 'Al-Masjid Al-Haram (in Makkah).' I said: 'Then which?' He said: 'then Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa (in Jerusalem).' I said: 'How many years between them?' He said: 'Forty years, but the whole earth is a mosque for you, so pray wherever you are when the time for prayer comes.'" (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 753)

قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَيُّ مَسْجِدٍ وُضِعَ فِي الْأَرْضِ أَوَّلُ؟ فَقَالَ «الْمَسْجِدُ الْحَرَامُ» قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ أَيُّ؟ قَالَ «الْمَسْجِدُ الْأَقْصَى» قُلْتُ فَكَمْ بَيْنَهُمَا؟ قَالَ «أَرْبَعُونَ سَنَةً ثُمَّ حَيْثُ مَا أَدْرَكَتْكَ الصَّلَاةُ فَصَلِّ فَهُوَ لَكَ مَسْجِدٌ»

I said: Messenger of Allah, which mosque was set up first on the earth? He said: Al-Masjid al-Haram (the sacred). I (again) said: Then which next? He said: It was the Masjid Aqsa. I (again) said: How long the space of time (between their setting up)? He (the Holy Prophet) said: It was forty years. And whenever the time comes for prayer, pray there, for that is a mosque; and in the hadith transmitted by Abu Kamil (the words are):" Whenever time comes for prayer, pray, for that is a mosque (for you)." (Using translation from Muslim 520a)

قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أِيُّ مَسْجِدٍ وُضِعَ فِي الْأَرْضِ أَوَّلًا؟ قَالَ الْمَسْجِدُ الْحَرَامُ قَالَ قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أِيُّ؟ قَالَ ثُمَّ الْمَسْجِدُ الْأَقْصَى قَالَ قُلْتُ كَمْ بَيْنَهُمَا؟ قَالَ أَرْبَعُونَ سَنَةً فَأَيْنَمَا أَدْرَكَتْكَ الصَّلَاةُ فَصَلِّ فَهُوَ مَسْجِدٌ

"أَوَّلُ مَسْجدٍ وُضِعَ في الأَرضِ المسجدُ الْحرامُ ثُمْ المسجدُ الأَقْصَى وبَيْنَهُمَا أربعون سنةً، ثم أَيْنَمَا أدركتك الصَّلَاةُ بَعْدُ فَصلِّ، فإِنَّ الْفَضْلَ فيهِ".