from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him:
“A prayer in the Sacred Mosque is equivalent to a hundred thousand prayers.”
As for al-Aqsā Mosque, it has been reported that “a prayer there is equivalent to fifty prayers,” and it has also been said, “five hundred prayers.” The latter is more plausible.
If someone vows to travel to “the grave of Allah’s close friend, peace be upon him,” or to the grave of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, or to “Mount Sinai,” where Allah spoke to Moses, peace be upon him, or to “Mount Hirā’,” where the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to worship and received revelation, or to the cave mentioned in the Quran, or to other graves, stations, and shrines associated with certain prophets and shaykhs, or to certain caves or mountains, fulfilling this vow is not obligatory, by agreement of the four imams. Travel to these places is prohibited, because of the Prophet’s prohibition, peace and blessings be upon him:
“Do not undertake a journey except to three mosques.”
Thus, if travel has been prohibited even to mosques—which are among the houses of Allah, in which He has commanded the five daily prayers—even to Qubā’ Mosque, which those in Medina are encouraged to visit, as established in both Sahīh collections through Ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, who reported that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, “used to visit Qubā’ every Saturday, sometimes riding and sometimes walking.” Al-Tirmidhī and others narrated that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
“Whoever purifies himself at home, doing so thoroughly, then comes to Qubā’ Mosque intending only to pray there, will have a reward like that of an ‘umrah.”
Al-Tirmidhī said: “A good, authentic hadith.”