Is there an exception to the ruling on passing in front of a praying person in the two Sacred Mosques and other mosques?
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The questioner : May Allah grant you success, he saysThe questioner : Is there an exception to the ruling on passing in front of a praying person in the two Sacred Mosques and other mosques?
The Shaykh : Yes, some scholars hold that it is permissible to pass in front of a praying person in the Sacred Mosque, especially if the person is praying in the area of the tawaf. Other scholars hold that this is not permissible and that Makkah is no different from other places, because there is no sound evidence indicating a distinction between Makkah and other places. As for Madinah, I do not know of anyone who said that it is permissible to pass in front of a praying person in the Mosque of Madinah; in fact, passing in front of a praying person is forbidden, and there is no doubt about that. The doubt lies in passing in front of a praying person in Makkah. However, if someone stands to pray in the Tawaf area, there is no sanctity in his position, and there is no blame on you for passing in front of him, because you have more right to that place than he does, since the one performing tawaf has no place for tawaf other than that spot. As for the praying person, he can pray in any part of the mosque. So if someone stands to pray in the Tawaf area, there is no sanctity in his position, and there is no blame on you for passing in front of him. There is no sanctity in his position in terms of the prayer; it is permissible to pass in front of him, even if he is praying two rak'ahs behind the Maqam and people need to pass in front of him for their tawaf. There is no blame in passing in front of him, because he has no right to pray in the place of the circumambulators. But if he is in another part of the mosque, there is no doubt that the most cautious course is not to pass in front of him, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Bulugh al-Maram 2:94 How long should one stand? Forty what?
The student: Forty autumns.
The Shaykh : Forty years, as it came in the narration of al-Bazzar: We say: Do not stand for forty years; stand for how long? Forty minutes is enough for us from you. Stand for forty minutes until the praying person finishes his prayer, then pass.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : Yes, some scholars hold that it is permissible to pass in front of a praying person in the Sacred Mosque, especially if the person is praying in the area of the tawaf. Other scholars hold that this is not permissible and that Makkah is no different from other places, because there is no sound evidence indicating a distinction between Makkah and other places. As for Madinah, I do not know of anyone who said that it is permissible to pass in front of a praying person in the Mosque of Madinah; in fact, passing in front of a praying person is forbidden, and there is no doubt about that. The doubt lies in passing in front of a praying person in Makkah. However, if someone stands to pray in the Tawaf area, there is no sanctity in his position, and there is no blame on you for passing in front of him, because you have more right to that place than he does, since the one performing tawaf has no place for tawaf other than that spot. As for the praying person, he can pray in any part of the mosque. So if someone stands to pray in the Tawaf area, there is no sanctity in his position, and there is no blame on you for passing in front of him. There is no sanctity in his position in terms of the prayer; it is permissible to pass in front of him, even if he is praying two rak'ahs behind the Maqam and people need to pass in front of him for their tawaf. There is no blame in passing in front of him, because he has no right to pray in the place of the circumambulators. But if he is in another part of the mosque, there is no doubt that the most cautious course is not to pass in front of him, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
If the person who passes in front of another person in prayer knew the magnitude of his sin, it would have been better for him to wait for forty than pass in front of him.
لو يعلم المار بين يدي المصلي ماذا عليه من الإثم لكان أن يقف أربعين خير من أن يمر بين يديهThe student: Forty autumns.
The Shaykh : Forty years, as it came in the narration of al-Bazzar:
Forty autumns.
أربعين خريفاًThe questioner : May Allah reward you.