We are seven people living in a building far from the mosque in Makkah. Should we pray in the building, or what should we do? And is the reward in the mosques of Makkah like the reward in al-Haram?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : We are seven people living in a building far from the mosque in Makkah. Should we pray in the building, or what should we do? And is the reward in the mosques of Makkah like the reward in al-Haram, multiplied?
The Shaykh : It is obligatory for these people who are in the residence, it is obligatory for them to pray in the mosques.
Rather, every person who has a mosque nearby must pray in the mosque, and it is not permissible for anyone or a group to pray in a house when the mosque is near them.
As for if the mosque is far away, there is no blame on them for praying in congregation in the house.
And the negligence of some people in this matter is based on the saying of some scholars (may Allah have mercy on them): that the intended meaning of congregational prayer is the congregation only.
So if the people pray in congregation, even in their houses, they have fulfilled the obligation.
But the correct view is that the congregation must be in the mosques, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan Ibn Majah 791Sahih (Darussalam), he said even though these people may have prayed in their places, it is obligatory for these people to pray with the congregation unless they are far away and it is difficult for them.
There is the second question.
The student: Is the reward in the mosques of Makkah like the reward in al-Masjid al-Haram?
The Shaykh : And as for his saying, meaning the sayingThe questioner : Do the mosques of Makkah have the reward as in al-Masjid al-Haram?
The answer is: No, the mosques of Makkah are not like al-Masjid al-Haram in reward, rather the multiplication is only in al-Masjid al-Haram itself, the original and the addition, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Jami` at-Tirmidhi 325Sahih (Darussalam).
So just as the virtue is specific to the mosque of the Messenger (may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him), it is also specific to al-Masjid al-Haram.
And this is also indicated by his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):Bulugh al-Maram 5:58. And it is known that if we traveled to a mosque of the mosques of Makkah other than al-Masjid al-Haram, this would not be prescribed, rather it would be prohibited, so what one travels to is that in which the multiplication is.
Yes, prayer in the mosques that are in Makkah, rather prayer in al-Haram as a whole, is better than prayer in al-Hill, and the evidence for that is that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him).
And this indicates that prayer in al-Haram is better, but it does not indicate the specific multiplication which is one hundred thousand prayers.
How many proofs do we have now?
The student: Two proofs.
The Shaykh : Two proofs.
The first proof: That the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 325Sahih (Darussalam).
So just as the specificity is in the mosque of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) itself, so it is in al-Masjid al-Haram.
The second proof: The prohibition of traveling except to the three mosques.
Now, it remains to be said: How do you answer His saying (Glorified and Exalted is He):[Al-Isra 17:1].
And he was taken in the night journey from Makkah from the house of Umm Hani?
The answer is: It is established in Sahih al-Bukhari that he was taken in the night journey from al-Hijr, he said: etc. of the hadith, and it is in Sahih al-Bukhari.
And where is the location of al-Hijr?
The students: In al-Masjid al-Haram.
The Shaykh : In al-Masjid al-Haram, because al-Hijr is this enclosure of the Ka'bah.
And on this basis, the hadith in which it is mentioned that he was taken in the night journey from the house of Umm Hani - if the narration is correct - this would be the beginning of the night journey, and its end from.
The Shaykh : It is obligatory for these people who are in the residence, it is obligatory for them to pray in the mosques.
Rather, every person who has a mosque nearby must pray in the mosque, and it is not permissible for anyone or a group to pray in a house when the mosque is near them.
As for if the mosque is far away, there is no blame on them for praying in congregation in the house.
And the negligence of some people in this matter is based on the saying of some scholars (may Allah have mercy on them): that the intended meaning of congregational prayer is the congregation only.
So if the people pray in congregation, even in their houses, they have fulfilled the obligation.
But the correct view is that the congregation must be in the mosques, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
I was thinking of commanding that the call to prayer be given, then I would tell a man to lead the people in prayer, then I would go out with some other men carrying bundles of wood, and go to people who do not attend the prayer, and burn their houses down around them.
لقد هممت أن آمر بالصلاة فتقام، ثم آمر رجلا فيصلي بالناس، ثم أنطلق برجال معهم حزم من حطب إلى قوم لا يشهدون الصلاة فأحرق عليهم بيوتهم بالنارto people
إلى قومThere is the second question.
The student: Is the reward in the mosques of Makkah like the reward in al-Masjid al-Haram?
The Shaykh : And as for his saying, meaning the sayingThe questioner : Do the mosques of Makkah have the reward as in al-Masjid al-Haram?
The answer is: No, the mosques of Makkah are not like al-Masjid al-Haram in reward, rather the multiplication is only in al-Masjid al-Haram itself, the original and the addition, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Salat is this Masjid of mine is better than a thousand Salat in another, except for Masjid Al-Haram.
صلاة في مسجدي هذا خير من ألف صلاة فيما عداه إلا المسجد الحرامSo just as the virtue is specific to the mosque of the Messenger (may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him), it is also specific to al-Masjid al-Haram.
And this is also indicated by his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):
One should not undertake journeys except to three mosques: al-Masque al-Haram (in Makkah ), the Aqsa mosque, or this mosque (in Madinah).
لا تشد الرحال إلا إلى ثلاثة مساجد : المسجد الحرام ، ومسجدي هذا ، والمسجد الأقصىYes, prayer in the mosques that are in Makkah, rather prayer in al-Haram as a whole, is better than prayer in al-Hill, and the evidence for that is that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him)
When he descended at al-Hudaybiyyah, and al-Hudaybiyyah is partly in al-Hill and partly in al-Haram, he would pray in al-Haram even though he was staying in al-Hill
لما نزل الحديبية، والحديبية بعضها في الحل وبعضها في الحرم، كان يصلي في الحرم مع أنه نازل في الحلAnd this indicates that prayer in al-Haram is better, but it does not indicate the specific multiplication which is one hundred thousand prayers.
How many proofs do we have now?
The student: Two proofs.
The Shaykh : Two proofs.
The first proof: That the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Salat is this Masjid of mine is better than a thousand Salat in another, except for Masjid Al-Haram.
صلاة في مسجدي هذا خير من ألف صلاة فيما عداه إلا المسجد الحرامSo just as the specificity is in the mosque of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) itself, so it is in al-Masjid al-Haram.
The second proof: The prohibition of traveling except to the three mosques.
Now, it remains to be said: How do you answer His saying (Glorified and Exalted is He):
Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al-Aqsa
سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي أَسْرَى بِعَبْدِهِ لَيْلاً مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ الْأَقْصَىAnd he was taken in the night journey from Makkah from the house of Umm Hani?
The answer is: It is established in Sahih al-Bukhari that he was taken in the night journey from al-Hijr, he said:
While I was sleeping in al-Hijr, a visitor came to me...
بينا أنا نائم في الحِجْر أتاني آت ...And where is the location of al-Hijr?
The students: In al-Masjid al-Haram.
The Shaykh : In al-Masjid al-Haram, because al-Hijr is this enclosure of the Ka'bah.
And on this basis, the hadith in which it is mentioned that he was taken in the night journey from the house of Umm Hani - if the narration is correct - this would be the beginning of the night journey, and its end from.