Do the people of Jeddah complete their prayers if they come to Mina to attend some of the scholarly lessons, including those who designate the journey to 'Arafah as a travel?

The Shaykh : And upon you be peace and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.

The questioner : ... Those who came from Jeddah here to attend the lessons, do they complete the prayer behind the imam?

The Shaykh : I answered them just now. I say, with caution, that the people of Makkah know its paths best. We do not consider the journey from Jeddah to Makkah to be travel. If, in their custom, they considered it travel, then they should pray with us in shortened form, for that is their practice. But if they consider it not to be travel, then it is not permissible for them to shorten the prayer, and they must complete it. I told them: If you have issued a ruling that this is travel, then that stands as it was, and your shortened prayer is valid. But if you made it up on your own and issued a ruling for yourselves without basis, then you must repeat your prayers. They asked: All of them? I said: All of them. This is my answer.

The questioner : The criterion is the consideration of travel in custom. Is it based on a few individuals?

The Shaykh : What is the criterion?

The questioner : The criterion is the consideration of travel in custom. Is it based on a few individuals or ...?

The Shaykh : The criterion is the collective custom, meaning the whole community. Do you understand?