Q: Please provide the reference for the following Hadith: “Picking up dirt from the Masjid is dowry for the hoors.”
A: This Hadith is reported by Sayyiduna Abu Qursafah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) which has the following words : ‘… removing dirt from the masjid is the dowry of the hoors’ (damsels of Jannah).
This Hadith has been recorded by the following Imams:
1) Tabarani (rahimahullah) in his Al M’ujamul Kabir. (See Majma’uz Zawaid vol. 2 pg. 9)
2) Abu Nu’aim (rahimahullah) in M’arifatus Sahabah. (Hadith: 6961)
3) Diyaud Din Al Maqdisi (rahimahullah) in Al Ahadithul Mukhtarah. (See Tanzihush Shari’ah vol. 2 pg. 383)
Authenticity
The Muhaddithun have debated the authenticity of the above narration. Hafiz Haythami (rahimahullah) has declared it as weak, while ‘Allamah Suyuti (rahimahullah) has quoted Imam Diyaud Din Al Maqdisi (rahimahullah) to have authenticated it. There is no harm in quoting it. (Majma’uz Zawaid vol. 2 pg. 9, Tanzihush Shari’ah vol. 2 pg. 383, Targhib vol. 1 pg. 197)
Other narrations
Imam Ibn Shahin (rahimahullah) has quoted a narration reported by Sayyiduna Ali (radiyallahu ‘anhu) which also mentions this deed to be the dowry of the hoors. However his chain needs further verification. (At Targhib Fi Fadhailil ‘Amal, Hadith: 553)
There are numerous virtues of cleaning the masjid. Imam Ibn Majah has recorded a narration on the authority of Sayyiduna Abu Sa’eed Khudri (radiyallahu ‘anhu) which states: Allah Ta’ala will build a home in Jannah for the one who removes dirt from the Masjid. (Ibn Majah, Hadith: 757)
Imam Mundhiri (rahimahullah) has declared this narration close to ‘hasan’ (ie. close to being sound.) (Targhib vol. 1 pg. 198)
And Allah Ta’ala knows best,
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Verified by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomer
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomer