Is there no harm in facing a fire during prayer?
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The questioner : Can we derive from the aforementioned hadith of Ibn Abbas the permissibility of facing a fire?
The Shaykh : This is an important question, an important question, and we hope it will be beneficial. He asks: Can we derive from the fact that the Fire was shown to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) during the eclipse prayer that there is no harm in the one who prays facing the fire, so that it is in his qiblah? Or not? Or do we say: This is a fire that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) saw, and it was specific to him, and for a reason, so it does not indicate the dislike of praying toward the fire, nor its permissibility. This is the closest view. But it is said: What is the evidence for the dislike of praying toward the fire? This is what requires evidence. The evidence is: The scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) disliked it and provided a reason, which is that this resembles the prayer of the Zoroastrians toward the fire, because the Zoroastrians pray toward the fire and worship it. So do we extend that to the lamps in the mosques, to the incense burners, and to the heater? Or do we say: These are not like the fire that the Zoroastrians worship, which they ignite so that it has a flame and they pray toward it? The apparent view is the second, and that what does not have a flame is not considered imitating the Zoroastrians.
The Shaykh : This is an important question, an important question, and we hope it will be beneficial. He asks: Can we derive from the fact that the Fire was shown to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) during the eclipse prayer that there is no harm in the one who prays facing the fire, so that it is in his qiblah? Or not? Or do we say: This is a fire that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) saw, and it was specific to him, and for a reason, so it does not indicate the dislike of praying toward the fire, nor its permissibility. This is the closest view. But it is said: What is the evidence for the dislike of praying toward the fire? This is what requires evidence. The evidence is: The scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) disliked it and provided a reason, which is that this resembles the prayer of the Zoroastrians toward the fire, because the Zoroastrians pray toward the fire and worship it. So do we extend that to the lamps in the mosques, to the incense burners, and to the heater? Or do we say: These are not like the fire that the Zoroastrians worship, which they ignite so that it has a flame and they pray toward it? The apparent view is the second, and that what does not have a flame is not considered imitating the Zoroastrians.