He sought the place (in the mosque) where the copies of the Qur'an were kept and glorified Allah there, and the narrator made a mention that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sought that place and that was between the pulpit and the qibla-a place where a goat could pass.
The Messenger of 'Allah (ﷺ) said: When any one of you stands for prayer and there is a thing before him equal to the back of the saddle that covers him and in case there is not before him (a thing) equal to the back of the saddle, his prayer would be cut off by (passing of an) ass, woman, and black Dog. I said: O Abu Dharr, what feature is there in a black dog which distinguish it from the red dog and the yellow dog? He said: O, son of my brother, I asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as you are asking me, and he said: The black dog is a devil.
The Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) said prayer at night and I was by his side in a state of meanses and I had a sheet pulled over me a portion of which was on his side.
I visited the Apostle (ﷺ) and saw him praying on a reed mat on which he was prostrating himself. And I saw him praying in a single garment with ends crossed with each other.
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)."
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: I have been conferred upon five (things) which were not granted to anyone before me (and these are): Every apostle wassent particularly to his own people, whereas I have been sent to all the red and the black the spoils of war have been made lawful for me, and these were never made lawful to anyone before me, and the earth has been made sacred and pure and mosque for me, so whenever the time of prayer comes for any one of you he should pray whenever he is, and I have been supported by awe (by which the enemy is overwhelmed) from the distance (which one takes) one month to cover and I have been granted intercession.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: We have been made to excel (other) people in three (things): Our rows have been made like the rows of the angels and the whole earth has been made a mosque for us, and its dust has been made a purifier for us in case water is not available. And he mentioned another characteristic too
I have been given superiority over the other prophets in six respects: I have been given words which are concise but comprehensive in meaning; I have been helped by terror (in the hearts of enemies): spoils have been made lawful to me: the earth has been made for me clean and a place of worship; I have been sent to all mankind and the line of prophets is closed with me.
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1062
Hadith 524
Chapter 5: The Book of Mosques and Places of Prayer - كتاب الْمَسَاجِدِ وَمَوَاضِعِ الصَّلاَةِ
Anas b. Malik reported:
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، وَشَيْبَانُ بْنُ فَرُّوخَ، كِلاَهُمَا عَنْ عَبْدِ الْوَارِثِ، - قَالَ يَحْيَى أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَارِثِ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي التَّيَّاحِ الضُّبَعِيِّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَنَسُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَدِمَ الْمَدِينَةَ فَنَزَلَ فِي عُلْوِ الْمَدِينَةِ فِي حَىٍّ يُقَالُ لَهُمْ بَنُو عَمْرِو بْنِ عَوْفٍ . فَأَقَامَ فِيهِمْ أَرْبَعَ عَشْرَةَ لَيْلَةً ثُمَّ إِنَّهُ أَرْسَلَ إِلَى مَلإِ بَنِي النَّجَّارِ فَجَاءُوا مُتَقَلِّدِينَ بِسُيُوفِهِمْ - قَالَ - فَكَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى رَاحِلَتِهِ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ رِدْفُهُ وَمَلأُ بَنِي النَّجَّارِ حَوْلَهُ حَتَّى أَلْقَى بِفِنَاءِ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ - قَالَ - فَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصَلِّي حَيْثُ أَدْرَكَتْهُ الصَّلاَةُ وَيُصَلِّي فِي مَرَابِضِ الْغَنَمِ ثُمَّ إِنَّهُ أَمَرَ بِالْمَسْجِدِ قَالَ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَى مَلإِ بَنِي النَّجَّارِ فَجَاءُوا فَقَالَ
" يَا بَنِي النَّجَّارِ ثَامِنُونِي بِحَائِطِكُمْ هَذَا " . قَالُوا لاَ وَاللَّهِ لاَ نَطْلُبُ ثَمَنَهُ إِلاَّ إِلَى اللَّهِ . قَالَ أَنَسٌ فَكَانَ فِيهِ مَا أَقُولُ كَانَ فِيهِ نَخْلٌ وَقُبُورُ الْمُشْرِكِينَ وَخِرَبٌ . فَأَمَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِالنَّخْلِ فَقُطِعَ وَبِقُبُورِ الْمُشْرِكِينَ فَنُبِشَتْ وَبِالْخِرَبِ فُسُوِّيَتْ - قَالَ - فَصَفُّوا النَّخْلَ قِبْلَةً وَجَعَلُوا عِضَادَتَيْهِ حِجَارَةً - قَالَ - فَكَانُوا يَرْتَجِزُونَ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَعَهُمْ وَهُمْ يَقُولُونَ اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّهُ لاَ خَيْرَ إِلاَّ خَيْرُ الآخِرَهْ فَانْصُرِ الأَنْصَارَ وَالْمُهَاجِرَهْ
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came to Medina and stayed in the upper part of Medina for fourteen nights with a tribe called Banu 'Amr b 'Auf. He then sent for the chiefs of Banu al-Najir, and they came with swords around their inecks. He (the narrator) said: I perceive as if I am seeing the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on his ride with Abu Bakr behind him and the chiefs of Banu al-Najjar around him till he alighted in the courtyard of Abu Ayyub. He (the narrator) said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said prayer when the time came for prayer, and he prayed in the fold of goats and sheep. He then ordered mosques to be built and sent for the chiefs of Banu al-Najjar, and they came (to him). He (the Holy Prophet) said to them: O Banu al-Najjar, sell these lands of yours to me. They said: No, by Allah. we would not demand their price, but (reward) from the Lord. Anas said: There (in these lands) were trees and graves of the polytheists, and ruins. The Messenger of Allah (may peace he upon him) ordered that the trees should be cut, and the graves should be dug out, and the ruins should be levelled. The trees (were thus) placed in rows towards the qibla and the stones were set on both sides of the door, and (while building the mosque) they (the Companions) sang rajaz verses along with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ):
O Allah: there is no good but the good of the next world, So help the Ansar and the Muhajirin.
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1068
Hadith 525
Chapter 5: The Book of Mosques and Places of Prayer - كتاب الْمَسَاجِدِ وَمَوَاضِعِ الصَّلاَةِ
Al-Bara' b. 'Azib reported:
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الأَحْوَصِ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنِ الْبَرَاءِ بْنِ عَازِبٍ، قَالَ صَلَّيْتُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِلَى بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ سِتَّةَ عَشَرَ شَهْرًا حَتَّى نَزَلَتِ الآيَةُ الَّتِي فِي الْبَقَرَةِ { وَحَيْثُمَا كُنْتُمْ فَوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُ} فَنَزَلَتْ بَعْدَ مَا صَلَّى النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَانْطَلَقَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ فَمَرَّ بِنَاسٍ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ وَهُمْ يُصَلُّونَ فَحَدَّثَهُمْ فَوَلَّوْا وُجُوهَهُمْ قِبَلَ الْبَيْتِ .
I said prayer with the Apostle (ﷺ) turning towards Bait-ul-Maqdis for sixteen months till this verse of Surah Baqara wis revealed:" And wherever you are turn your faces towards it" (ii. 144). This verse was revealed when the Apostle (ﷺ) had said prayer. A person amongst his people passed by the people of Ansar as they were engaged in prayer. He narrated to them (this command of Allah) and they turned their faces towards the Ka'ba.
As the people were praying at Quba' a man came to them and said: It has been revealed to file Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) during the night and he has been directed to turn towards the Ka'ba. So turn towards it. Their faces were towards Syria and they turned round towards Ka'ba.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to pray towards Bait-ul-Maqdis, that it was revealed (to him):" Indeed We see the turning of the face to heaven, wherefore We shall assuredly cause thee to turn towards Qibla which shall please thee. So turn thy face towards the sacred Mosque (Ka'ba)" (ii. 144). A person from Banu Salama was going; (he found the people) in ruk'u (while) praying the dawn prayer and they had said one rak'ah. He said in a loud voice: Listen! the Qibla has been changed and they turned towards (the new) Qibla (Ka'ba) in that very state.
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1075
Hadith 528
Chapter 5: The Book of Mosques and Places of Prayer - كتاب الْمَسَاجِدِ وَمَوَاضِعِ الصَّلاَةِ
'A'isha reported:
وَحَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، أَخْبَرَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّ أُمَّ حَبِيبَةَ، وَأُمَّ سَلَمَةَ ذَكَرَتَا كَنِيسَةً رَأَيْنَهَا بِالْحَبَشَةِ - فِيهَا تَصَاوِيرُ - لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم
" إِنَّ أُولَئِكِ إِذَا كَانَ فِيهِمُ الرَّجُلُ الصَّالِحُ فَمَاتَ بَنَوْا عَلَى قَبْرِهِ مَسْجِدًا وَصَوَّرُوا فِيهِ تِلْكَ الصُّوَرَ أُولَئِكِ شِرَارُ الْخَلْقِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ " .
Umm Habiba and Umm Salama made a mention before the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) of a church which they had seen in Abyssinia and which had pictures in it. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: When a pious person amongst them (among the religious groups) dies they build a place of worship on his grave, and then decorate it with such pictures. They would be the worst of creatures on the Day of judgment in the sight of Allah.
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1076
Hadith 529
Chapter 3: The prohibition of building masajid over graves and placing images therein; and the prohibition of taking graves as masajid - كتاب الْمَسَاجِدِ وَمَوَاضِعِ الصَّلاَةِ
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said during his illness from which he never recovered: Allah cursed the Jews and the Christians that they took the graves of their prophets as mosques. She ('A'isha) reported: Had it not been so, his (Prophet's) grave would have been in an open place, but it could not be due to the fear that it may not be taken as a mosque.
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1080
Hadith 531
Chapter 3: The prohibition of building masajid over graves and placing images therein; and the prohibition of taking graves as masajid - كتاب الْمَسَاجِدِ وَمَوَاضِعِ الصَّلاَةِ
As the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was about to breathe his last, he drew his sheet upon his face and when he felt uneasy, he uncovered his face and said in that very state: Let there be curse upon the Jews and the Christians that they have taken the graves of their apostles as places of worship. He in fact warned (his men) against what they (the Jews and the Christians) did.
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1082
Hadith 532
Chapter 3: The prohibition of building masajid over graves and placing images therein; and the prohibition of taking graves as masajid - كتاب الْمَسَاجِدِ وَمَوَاضِعِ الصَّلاَةِ
I heard from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) five days before his death and he said: I stand acquitted before Allah that I took any one of you as friend, for Allah has taken me as His friend, as he took Ibrahim as His friend. Had I taken any one of my Ummah as a friend, I would have taken Abu Bakr as a friend. Beware of those who preceded you and used to take the graves of their prophets and righteous men as places of worship, but you must not take graves as mosques; I forbid you to do that.