Question:
Assalamualaikum, I once heard an ustaz stating that it is prioritized to perform ablution in our house before we go to the mosque for our congregational prayer compared to performing our ablution at the mosque. Is there a hadith from the Prophet PBUH explaining this matter?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
There several hadiths with different wording stating that it is prioritized to perform the ablution at home compared to at the mosque.
Abu Hurairah RA narrated that the Prophet PBUH said:
مَنْ تَطَهَّرَ فِي بَيْتِهِ ثُمَّ مَشَى إِلَى بَيْتٍ مِنْ بُيُوتِ اللَّهِ لِيَقْضِيَ فَرِيضَةً مِنْ فَرَائِضِ اللَّهِ كَانَتْ خَطْوَتَاهُ إِحْدَاهُمَا تَحُطُّ خَطِيئَةً وَالأُخْرَى تَرْفَعُ دَرَجَةً
“He who purified himself in his house, and then he walked to one of the houses of Allah for the sake of performing a Fard (obligatory act) out of the Fara'id (obligatory acts) of Allah, both his steps (would be significant) as one of them would obliterate his sin and the second one would raise his status.”
Sahih Muslim (666)
The above hadith is supported with another narration from Abu Umamah RA stating that the Prophet PBUH said:
مَنْ خَرَجَ مِنْ بَيْتِهِ مُتَطَهِّرًا إِلَى صَلاَةٍ مَكْتُوبَةٍ فَأَجْرُهُ كَأَجْرِ الْحَاجِّ الْمُحْرِمِ
“If anyone goes out from his house after performing ablution for saying the prescribed prayer in congregation (in the mosque), his reward will be like that of one who goes for hajj pilgrimage after wearing ihram (robe worn by the hajj pilgrims).”
Sunan Abu Daud (558)
Furthermore, there is also a narration from Sahl ibn Hunaif RA, the Prophet PBUH said:
مَنْ تَطَهَّرَ فِي بَيْتِهِ ثُمَّ أَتَى مَسْجِدَ قُبَاءٍ فَصَلَّى فِيهِ صَلاَةً كَانَ لَهُ كَأَجْرِ عُمْرَةٍ
“Whoever purifies himself in his house, then comes to the Quba’ Mosque and offers one prayer therein, will have a reward like that for ‘Umrah.”
Sunan Ibn Majah (1412)
Uthman bin ‘Affan RA narrated that the Prophet PBUH said:
مَنْ تَوَضَّأَ لِلصَّلاَةِ فَأَسْبَغَ الْوُضُوءَ ثُمَّ مَشَى إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ الْمَكْتُوبَةِ فَصَلاَّهَا مَعَ النَّاسِ أَوْ مَعَ الْجَمَاعَةِ أَوْ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ ذُنُوبَهُ
“He who performed ablution for prayer and performed it properly and then went (to observe) obligatory prayer and offered it along with people or with the congregation or in the mosque, Allah would pardon his sins.”
Sahih Muslim (232) and Sunan al-Nasa’ie (856)
According to Syeikh Muhammad al-Amin al-Syanqiti, these hadiths are not specific to those who perform ablution in their homes, but it also includes those who perform ablution as soon as the adhan is called and quickly went to the mosque, may they be at home, the office or other places.
Syeikh Syams al-Haq al-Abadi wrote, the hadith refers to those who went out of their house, shop or leaving anything that they were busy with to perform prayer. Furthermore, those who have purified themselves and went on their way to perform the prayer, their rewards are greater and prioritized.
On another hand, for those whose ablution was invalidated on the way to the mosque, then they have already gained the great rewards and priority, for his good intention is already considered as if he had fulfilled his intention. (Refer ‘Aun al-Ma’bud, 2/185)
Conclusion
To conclude, there are sahih and sound hadiths from the Prophet PBUH which state the prioritization of performing ablution at home compared to at the mosque. The reason is, being in a purified and ablution state is prioritized than without ablution.
The same is for performing ablution, someone would have followed the commandment and sunnah of the Prophet PBUH and he would also in a purified state on his way to the mosque. This would surely result in goodness upon him.
The hadith also emphasizes that we should immediately be on our way to prayer, leaving our worldly affairs to answer the call of Allah SWT.
Moreover, by performing ablution at home, this would help in saving the cost for the management of the mosque which is responsible to pay the water bills every month.