The Ruling on Voluntary Prayer in Homes and Mosques

The questioner:
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. Regarding the statement of Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him), “I prefer voluntary prayer in it for strangers over voluntary prayer in homes,” did not the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) make no distinction between residents and non-residents regarding voluntary prayer in the two Sacred Mosques?

The Shaykh:
He did make a distinction. He addressed the people of Madinah and said, “The best prayer of a man is in his home, so pray, O people, in your homes, except for the obligatory prayer.”

The questioner:
Honorable Shaykh, she says.

The Shaykh:
In Makkah, their voluntary prayer in their homes is better, specifically the night prayer. As for tarawih, the eclipse prayer, and the two Eid prayers, these are prayed in the mosques, whether it is the Sacred Mosque, the Prophet’s Mosque, or any other mosque. Yes.