The ruling on praying in a place other than the gathering place of the worshippers
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Which is better: Is it better to pray on the roof of al-Masjid al-Haram, or underground, or should one pray in the rows, even if they are in the expansion?
There is no doubt that praying on the roof or in the lower level is far better than praying outside the mosque. In fact, we consider praying outside the mosque, when there is space inside the mosque, to be invalid, because one prayed in a place other than the gathering place. The Shari'ah has a specific regard for the gathering of Muslims in their place and in their actions. For this reason, they were commanded to follow the imam and keep in step with him so that their actions would be unified, and likewise their location.
But tell me: Which is better: to pray on the level where the imam is, because that is closer to the imam, or to pray on the roof?Here we say: If praying on the roof is more devout for him, more present in his heart, and further from distraction, then it is better. This is because the virtue attached to the act of worship itself takes precedence over the virtue attached to the place of worship.
There is no doubt that praying on the roof or in the lower level is far better than praying outside the mosque. In fact, we consider praying outside the mosque, when there is space inside the mosque, to be invalid, because one prayed in a place other than the gathering place. The Shari'ah has a specific regard for the gathering of Muslims in their place and in their actions. For this reason, they were commanded to follow the imam and keep in step with him so that their actions would be unified, and likewise their location.
But tell me: Which is better: to pray on the level where the imam is, because that is closer to the imam, or to pray on the roof?Here we say: If praying on the roof is more devout for him, more present in his heart, and further from distraction, then it is better. This is because the virtue attached to the act of worship itself takes precedence over the virtue attached to the place of worship.