Does the reward differ for one who performs tawaf and sa'y on the first floor compared to one who performs tawaf on the ground floor?

Al-Hawini: Does the reward for sa'y on the second floor differ from that on the ground floor?

The Shaykh : I see that the original is the lower floor. If there is an excuse for some of those performing sa'y, such as crowding, and they go up to the second floor, the obligatory act is fulfilled for them. However, it is better not to go up and not to perform sa'y except on the first floor. This is what we adopt, and this is what we do with the elderly whom you see with your own eyes.

Another questioner : If one performs sa'y on the ground floor, he misses the khushu' (humility) and the supplication on al-Safa, and he misses the supplication on al-Marwah. Realizing the virtue within the worship itself, which is supplication and khushu', is preferable to realizing a virtue related to the place of worship. What is your opinion, Your Eminence?

The Shaykh : It is possible that the matter is so, but we prefer to adhere to the athar (reports) as they came, because the original is not to change. I do not think you are with us in that resorting to the second floor for sa'y is only necessitated by dire necessity, and were it not for that, it is not permissible for us to change the place of sa'y that we inherited from our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and all the righteous Salaf. Do you not see that the matter is so?
Al-Huwayni: Yes.

The Shaykh: All right.