Is a person rewarded for his steps in going to the mosque and returning from it?
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The student: Is a person rewarded for his steps when he goes to the mosque and when he returns from it?
The Shaykh : Yes, indeed. As for going to the mosque, you have heard [the ruling]. As for returning, there is the story of the man who owned a donkey and lived far from the mosque. He was told, "Why don't you buy a donkey to ride?" He said, "O Messenger of Allah, I intend to count my walking to the mosque and my return from it as an act of worship." He said: So if a person intends this, he gets what he intended.
But, my brothers, I tell you that we often miss out on this intention. We pray only wanting to perform the prayer that is obligatory upon us, but we do not feel that we are seeking the reward for it, or that we will find the reward for this prayer, or for this ablution, or for this step. This is often missed by us. Intentioning the reward has its effect, not only in terms of the reward itself, but also in that it encourages a person to work, because if a person knows that if he works he will be rewarded, he will work more. But if he works only because it is an obligation he must perform, he becomes like one who pays off a debt for himself and gives it to the creditor. Therefore, I encourage myself and you in this matter of intentioning the reward. The meaning of intentioning the reward is that he wants the reward and recompense through his deed. Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Fath 48:29] Listen to the intentioning: [Al-Fath: 29]. He seeks the reward from Allah, Mighty and Majestic. And we ask Allah to remind us of that and help us with it.
The Shaykh : Yes, indeed. As for going to the mosque, you have heard [the ruling]. As for returning, there is the story of the man who owned a donkey and lived far from the mosque. He was told, "Why don't you buy a donkey to ride?" He said, "O Messenger of Allah, I intend to count my walking to the mosque and my return from it as an act of worship." He said:
You have what you intended.
لك ما احتسبتBut, my brothers, I tell you that we often miss out on this intention. We pray only wanting to perform the prayer that is obligatory upon us, but we do not feel that we are seeking the reward for it, or that we will find the reward for this prayer, or for this ablution, or for this step. This is often missed by us. Intentioning the reward has its effect, not only in terms of the reward itself, but also in that it encourages a person to work, because if a person knows that if he works he will be rewarded, he will work more. But if he works only because it is an obligation he must perform, he becomes like one who pays off a debt for himself and gives it to the creditor. Therefore, I encourage myself and you in this matter of intentioning the reward. The meaning of intentioning the reward is that he wants the reward and recompense through his deed. Allah the Exalted said: