Is it permissible for the one performing 'Umrah to increase voluntary prayers in al-Masjid al-Haram and al-Masjid al-Nabawi for the sake of the great reward for whoever prays in them, or is it better for him to pray the voluntary prayers at home?

The questioner: A continuation of the same topic.

The Shaykh: Yes.

The questioner: In terms of virtue and reward, just as he prays in Madinah or Makkah, the same applies to him, the same obligatory prayer?

The Shaykh: Yes, the same reward that came in the authentic hadith, which is his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): , this vast virtue includes all prayers, whether they are obligatory or voluntary, whether the one praying is a man or a woman. Knowing that performing voluntary prayers, and especially the regular voluntary prayers (rawatib), is better when done in homes outside the mosque. Also, it is better for a woman to pray her obligatory prayer in her home than to pray this obligatory prayer in her mosque. Accordingly, if a Muslim is staying in Makkah or Madinah and he prays the voluntary prayers in his home while in Madinah, for example, a thousand and more is recorded for him. But if he prays this voluntary prayer in al-Masjid al-Nabawi, a thousand is recorded for him. If he prays this voluntary prayer in his home, a thousand and more is recorded for him because it is better. Likewise, if he prays in al-Masjid al-Haram or is in Makkah and prays in his home, a hundred thousand and more is recorded for him. As for if he prays in the mosque, this increase is nullified and a hundred thousand is recorded for him. Likewise, the woman. From this, you know the error of the women's rush to crowd the men in the two noble mosques, al-Masjid al-Haram and al-Masjid al-Nabawi. Their rush to pray in these two mosques is an error resulting from ignorance; because they think that their prayer in al-Masjid al-Nabawi, considering that prayer there is a thousand, and in al-Masjid al-Haram prayer is a hundred thousand, that their prayer in these two mosques is better. This is an error. But without a doubt, if the woman prays in the two mosques, the virtue mentioned by the Messenger (peace be upon him) is recorded for her. But this eagerness indicates ignorance; because if the woman prays in her home, whether in Makkah or in Madinah, it is better for her.
And I said that if she prays in the two mosques, the reward is recorded for her. This is subject to one condition, which many women also overlook; which is that the woman who prays outside her home must be covered and wearing the Shari'ah-prescribed hijab. And we see there, in Hajj and 'Umrah, many women displaying their adornment, attending prayer in the mosque. Here comes to mind the saying of Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her): "If the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had known what the women innovated after him, he would have forbidden them from the mosques." Why? Because the woman's attendance in the mosques, even in the best of mosques, is a weaker matter, not a stronger one; a lesser matter, not a greater one. So if she goes out to perform the obligatory prayer in the mosque, she is only doing a weaker matter. So she does not gain a reward, but rather she loses a reward, or even rewards. And when she goes out displaying her adornment, perfumed and scented, she has committed a sin. So what does she have to do with this sin? Let her pray in her home, so she is safe from disobeying her Lord and obtains the greater reward for her prayer in her home.