Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) ordered that the Masjids be cleaned and perfumed

Question

Is the following Hadith authentic?

“Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) commanded that Masjids be built among houses [i.e. in each Neighbourhood and locality] and that they be cleaned and perfumed”

Answer

This narration has recorded in a few Hadith collections with more than one chain [mursalan and mawsulan]. Imam Ibn Hibban has declared one version authentic.

(Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 594, 595, Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 456, Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith: 759, Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 7522, Sahih Ibn Hibban; Al Ihsan, Hadith: 1634. Also see footnotes of Shaykh Muhammad ‘Awwamah on Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah)

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar