Meritsفضیلت

Be it known to you that Kufa city is one of the four cities chosen by Allah (s) exclusively. It is narrated that the word Tur-sinin (95:2) mentioned in the Holy Qur’an is an indication of this city. According to another narration, this city is the sanctuary of Allah (swt), the Holy Prophet (s), and Imam Ali (a), and to give one dirham as alms in this city is equal in rewarding to giving 100 dirhams at other places, and to offer a 2 rakat namaz there is equal in rewarding to offering a 100 rakat namaz at other places.

It is also one of the four places where a traveler is free to perform the obligatory namaz either in the complete form or in the shortened form (qasr). The reward of performing one obligatory namaz at Masjid Kufa is equal to the reward of going on one acceptable hajj and equal to the reward of performing 1000 namaz at other places.

In Masjid Kufa, according to narrations, all Prophets offered prayers, and the Awaited Imam (a) will also offer prayer therein. In this connection, a hadith reads that 1000 Prophets and 1000 successors of Prophets offered prayers in Masjid Kufa. Moreover, some narrations may hint that this mosque is preferred in merits to the Holy Mosque in Jerusalem (Masjid Aqsa).

Ibn Qawlawayh has reported Imam Baqir (a) as saying, “If people were to realize the favors that they may attain when they visit Masjid Kufa, they should certainly travel to it from remote countries. One obligatory prayer in this mosque is equal in reward to (the reward of) one time of admitted hajj, and to offer a supererogatory prayer in this mosque is equal in reward to (the reward of) one admitted ‘umrah.”

Shaykh Kulayni, as well as other scholars, has reported on the authority of our master reporters that Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a) asked Harun ibn Kharijah, “What is the distance between your house and Masjid Kufa? Is it one mile?” “No,” answered Harun, “It is less than that.” The Imam (a) asked, “Do you then perform all your prayers there?” “No, in fact” answered Harun.

The Imam (a) commented, “Had I been present in the precinct of that mosque, I would have never missed any prayer that I can perform there. Do you know the merits of that place? All Prophets and virtuous saints offered prayers in Masjid Kufa, including the Holy Prophet Muhammad (s). When he was taken to the heavens, Archangel Gabriel said to him, ‘Muhammad, do you know where you are now? You are now opposite to the mosque of kufa.’ The Holy Prophet (s) thus asked permission from his Lord to visit the mosque and offer a 2 rakat namaz. He was thus permitted.

Verily, the right side of this mosque is a garden of Paradise, the middle of it is a garden of Paradise, and the back of it is also a garden of Paradise. To perform an obligatory prayer there is equal in reward to performing 1000 namaz (at other places). To offer a supererogatory prayer therein is equal in reward to offering 500 namaz. To sit there without reciting or saying any devotional statement is considered worship. If people were to realize the merits of visiting this place, they would certainly come to it, even crawling.” Finally, in the word of some narrations, the right side of this mosque is more favorable than its left side.