The Virtues and Benefits of Mosques in Islam

Allah SWT says, 

إِنَّمَا يَعْمُرُ مَسَاجِدَ اللَّهِ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَأَقَامَ الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَى الزَّكَاةَ وَلَمْ يَخْشَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ فَعَسَى أُولَئِكَ أَنْ يَكُونُوا مِنَ الْمُهْتَدِينَ

 "The mosques of Allah are only to be maintained by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day and establish prayer and give zakah and do not fear except Allah, for it is expected that those will be of the [rightly] guided." - Quran 9:18

This implies that the mosques are not just buildings, but places where faith, worship, charity, and piety are manifested and nurtured. 

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said

 "Whoever builds a mosque for the sake of Allah, even if it is as small as a bird's nest, Allah will build for him a house in Paradise." - 

مَنْ بَنَى مَسْجِدًا لِلَّهِ كَمَفْحَصِ قَطَاةٍ أَوْ أَصْغَرَ بَنَى اللَّهُ لَهُ بَيْتًا فِي الْجَنَّةِ

(Sunan Ibn Majah 738)

This shows the generosity and mercy of Allah for those who dedicate their resources and efforts for His cause. 

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) also said, 

"The most beloved of places to Allah are the mosques, and the most hated of places to Allah are the marketplaces." 

أَحَبُّ الْبِلاَدِ إِلَى اللَّهِ مَسَاجِدُهَا وَأَبْغَضُ الْبِلاَدِ إِلَى اللَّهِ أَسْوَاقُهَا

-  (Sahih Muslim 671)

The hadith from Sahih Muslim (671) contrasts the mosques with the marketplaces as the most beloved and hated places to Allah respectively. The mosques are the most beloved places because they are where Allah’s name is much mentioned and where Muslims gather for worship and learning. The marketplaces are the most hated places because they are where people often engage in dishonest transactions, break promises, and neglect the remembrance of Allah. 

These teachings emphasize the importance of building and maintaining mosques as places of worship, education, and community gathering, and highlight the spiritual rewards of such actions.