Is it permissible to face one of the corners of the Hajar Isma'il and turn one's back to the Ka'bah in voluntary prayer?
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The Shaykh : Is voluntary prayer permissible in the Hajar Isma'il because it is part of the Ka'bah? Is it permissible to face one of its corners and turn one's back to the Ka'bah if one prays inside it?
And what is the reason for the impermissibility of performing obligatory prayer inside the Ka'bah?
First, we ask: Is this the Hajar Isma'il? Abd al-Salam!
The questioner : No.
The Shaykh : This is not the Hajar Isma'il, and nothing is known about Isma'il regarding it. The origin of this stone is that when Quraysh wanted to build the Ka'bah, they did not have the good money to complete it, so they decided to leave this side of the Ka'bah out and build it as it is now. Isma'il is not known to have done this, because it was built on the foundations of Ibrahim, which were wider than this.
As for prayer inside it, the correct view is that there is no difference between voluntary and obligatory prayer, and that obligatory prayer is permissible just like voluntary prayer, because the hadith of Ibn 'Umar is not authentic:.
As for facing one of the walls of the stone, there is nothing wrong with it, but one should not place the standing Ka'bah behind him, because if he places it behind him, nothing from the Ka'bah would be directly in front of him, since the northern end of the stone is not part of the Ka'bah, and therefore it is not valid.
However, if he places the Ka'bah to his right or to his left and faces one of the western or eastern walls, there is nothing wrong with it.
And what is the reason for the impermissibility of performing obligatory prayer inside the Ka'bah?
First, we ask: Is this the Hajar Isma'il? Abd al-Salam!
The questioner : No.
The Shaykh : This is not the Hajar Isma'il, and nothing is known about Isma'il regarding it. The origin of this stone is that when Quraysh wanted to build the Ka'bah, they did not have the good money to complete it, so they decided to leave this side of the Ka'bah out and build it as it is now. Isma'il is not known to have done this, because it was built on the foundations of Ibrahim, which were wider than this.
As for prayer inside it, the correct view is that there is no difference between voluntary and obligatory prayer, and that obligatory prayer is permissible just like voluntary prayer, because the hadith of Ibn 'Umar is not authentic:
That the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade praying in seven places, and he mentioned among them the roof of the House of Allah.
أنّ النّبيّ صلّى الله عليه وسلّم نهى أن يصلّى في سبعة مواطن وذكر منها وفوق ظهر بيت اللهAs for facing one of the walls of the stone, there is nothing wrong with it, but one should not place the standing Ka'bah behind him, because if he places it behind him, nothing from the Ka'bah would be directly in front of him, since the northern end of the stone is not part of the Ka'bah, and therefore it is not valid.
However, if he places the Ka'bah to his right or to his left and faces one of the western or eastern walls, there is nothing wrong with it.