In another narration: “A man will pass through a mosque without praying there” (1).
Ibn Masʿūd also said: “Among the signs immediately preceding the Hour will be that mosques are used as thoroughfares” (2).
It is also related from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), traced back to the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), that he said: “Among the signs of the Hour will be that mosques are used as thoroughfares” (2).
This is not permissible, for venerating mosques is part of venerating the sacred rites of Allah (3), Most High, and this is a sign of faith and piety. Allah Most High says: “Whoever venerates the sacred rites of Allah—indeed, that proceeds from the piety of hearts” [al-Hajj: 32].
The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: “When any one of you enters the mosque, let him not sit down until he has prayed two units of prayer” (4).
He also stated in *al-Silsila al-Sahīha* that it has another chain of transmission from Ibn Masūd by which it is strengthened. See vol. 2, p. 253, hadith no. 649.
(1) Narrated by al-Bazzār. Al-Haythamī graded this narration authentic in *Majma al-Zawāid* (7/329).
(2) *Minhat al-Mabūd fī Tartīb Musnad al-Tayālisī*, chapter “The Tribulations That Will Occur Shortly before the Hour” (2/212), arranged by al-Sāatī; and *al-Mustadrak* by al-Hākim (4/446). Al-Hākim said: “This hadith has an authentic chain of transmission,” while al-Dhahabī said: “It is *mawqūf* (a report stopping at a Companion).”
(3) *Shaāir Allah* (the sacred rites of Allah): the singular is *shaīra*, meaning anything designated as a sign of obedience to Him, Most High. See Ibn Qutayba, *Tafsīr Gharīb al-Qurān*, p. 32, edited by al-Sayyid Ahmad Saqr, Dār al-Kutub al-Ilmiyya, Beirut (1398 AH).
(4) *Sahīh Muslim*, “The Book of the Prayer of Travelers and Its Shortening,” chapter “The Recommendation to Greet the Mosque with Two Units of Prayer, the Disapproval of Sitting before Performing Them, and Their Prescription at All Times” (5/225–226, with al-Nawawī’s commentary).