Reference: Siyar A’laam an-Nubalaa v2 p479
al-Arqam ibn Abil-Arqam made preparations to travel to Bayt al-Maqdis (al-Masjid al-Aqsaa, Jerusalem), and when he finished his preparations, he came to see the Prophet ﷺ to bid him farewell, and he ﷺ said:
«For what purpose are you leaving; is it [for] a need or [for] trade [purposes]?»
He said: ‘No, by Allaah O Prophet of Allaah, rather, I wanted to pray in Bayt al-Maqdis.’ So the Prophet ﷺ said:
«Prayer in my masjid is better than a thousand prayers elsewhere, except [in] al-Masjid al-Haraam»
…[satisfied with what the Prophet ﷺ told him], al-Arqam then sat down and did not leave [for Bayt al-Maqdis].
