Clarification of the intended meaning of al-Masjid al-Haram: is it the mosque of the Ka'bah or the entire sacred precinct?
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The Shaykh : But here is a question: what is meant by al-Masjid al-Haram here? Is the intention the entire sacred precinct, or is the intention this mosque, the mosque of the Ka'bah? There are two opinions among the scholars regarding this:
Some of the scholars say, "The intention is the entire sacred precinct, and the entire sacred precinct is called al-Masjid al-Haram."
And some of them said, "Rather, the intention by al-Masjid al-Haram is the mosque in which the Ka'bah is," which is this one. And it is well known that the legal principle, which is the requirement of faith, is that when there is disagreement, one must return to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), due to His saying, the Exalted:[An-Nisa 4:59] And He said, the Exalted: [Ash-Shuraa 42:10] So if we refer this disagreement among the scholars—whether the intention by al-Masjid al-Haram is the generality of the sacred precinct or the specificity of the mosque in which the Ka'bah is?
We said that the judgment between those who disagree is the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). So when we returned to the Sunnah, we found that Muslim narrated in his Sahih from one of the Mothers of the Believers that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Musannaf Abd al-Razzaq 12:1026 This is a text that settles the dispute, and the mosque of the Ka'bah is this one.
And it also indicates this that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Bulugh al-Maram 5:58 And it is well known that one does not saddle the camel to travel to a mosque in Juddah, or a mosque in Ji'ad, or a mosque in any place in Makkah, but rather one saddles the camel to travel to which mosque? To this mosque, because it is specifically distinguished by this virtue of a hundred thousand prayers. But an objection may be raised against us, an objection that may be raised, and it is that it is established in the authentic hadith: , and al-Hudaybiyyah is partly in the sacred precinct and partly in the non-sacred area, , and this indicates that the sacred precinct has a virtue over the non-sacred area. So what is the answer?
The answer is that we say: Yes, we acknowledge that the sacred precinct has a virtue over the non-sacred area, and that prayer in the sacred precinct is better than prayer in the non-sacred area. But the issue is not that the sacred precinct is better than the non-sacred area; rather, the issue is the specific virtue, and what is that, everyone?
The student: A hundred thousand.
The Shaykh : A hundred thousand prayers; this is specific to this mosque. As for the general virtue, there is no doubt that the sacred precinct, meaning what is within the miles, is better than the non-sacred area.
And another person raised against us the saying of Allah, the Exalted:[Al-Isra 17:1] And he said that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was taken in the night journey from the house of Umm Hani', not from al-Masjid al-Haram.
And the answer to this objection is: Rather, he was taken from here, from this mosque, as established in the authentic hadith. He said: to the end of the hadith. And this is a text that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) was taken in the night journey from which place? From this mosque. The Hijr is this one that is near the Ka'bah.
Some of the scholars say, "The intention is the entire sacred precinct, and the entire sacred precinct is called al-Masjid al-Haram."
And some of them said, "Rather, the intention by al-Masjid al-Haram is the mosque in which the Ka'bah is," which is this one. And it is well known that the legal principle, which is the requirement of faith, is that when there is disagreement, one must return to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), due to His saying, the Exalted:
And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result.
فإن تنازعتم في شيء فردوه إلى الله والرسول إن كنتم تؤمنون بالله واليوم الآخر ذلك خير وأحسن تأويلاAnd in anything over which you disagree - its ruling is [to be referred] to Allah.
وما اختلفتم فيه من شيء فحكمه إلى اللهWe said that the judgment between those who disagree is the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). So when we returned to the Sunnah, we found that Muslim narrated in his Sahih from one of the Mothers of the Believers that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
A prayer in this mosque of mine is better than a thousand prayers in any other mosque, except the Mosque of the Ka'bah.
صلاة في مسجدي هذا أفضل من ألف صلاة فيما سواه إلا مسجد الكعبةexcept the Mosque of the Ka'bah
إلا مسجد الكعبةAnd it also indicates this that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
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 الأقصىThat the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), when he descended at al-Hudaybiyyah, had descended in the non-sacred area.
أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم حين نزل الحديبية كان قد نزل في الحلAnd when he wanted to pray, he would enter the side of it that is in the sacred precinct.
وكان إذا أراد الصلاة دخل إلى الجانب الحرمي منهاThe answer is that we say: Yes, we acknowledge that the sacred precinct has a virtue over the non-sacred area, and that prayer in the sacred precinct is better than prayer in the non-sacred area. But the issue is not that the sacred precinct is better than the non-sacred area; rather, the issue is the specific virtue, and what is that, everyone?
The student: A hundred thousand.
The Shaykh : A hundred thousand prayers; this is specific to this mosque. As for the general virtue, there is no doubt that the sacred precinct, meaning what is within the miles, is better than the non-sacred area.
And another person raised against us the saying of Allah, the Exalted:
Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al-Aqsa
سبحان الذي أسرى بعبده ليلا من المسجد الحرام إلى المسجد الأقصىAnd the answer to this objection is: Rather, he was taken from here, from this mosque, as established in the authentic hadith. He said: