Performing Salah (Prayer) Inside Ka’bah, on its Top, al-Biya 4, Churches and Places where Performing Salah (prayer) Is Undesirable

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about performing Salah (prayer) in al-Biya‘ and churches. He (the Imam) said, ‘Sprinkle, then perform Salah (prayer).’ He (the narrator) has said that he then asked him (the Imam) about the houses of Zoroastrians. He (the Imam) said, ‘Sprinkle and perform Salah (prayer).”’

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about performing Salah (prayer) in camel’s barn. He (the Imam) said, ‘If you are afraid for your effects, sweep it and wash it. It is not harmful to perform Salah (prayer) in sheep barns.’”

“He (the Imam) (a.s.), said, ‘You must not perform Salah (prayer) in places where horses, mules and donkeys are kept.’”

If the leakage is from the sewage, do not perform Salah (prayer) there; but if the leakage is from something else, it is not an offense to perform Salah (prayer) there.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the barn of sheep. He (the Imam) said, ‘You can perform Salah (prayer) there but do not perform Salah (prayer) in the place where camels are kept, unless you are afraid for loss of your property, in which case, you can sweep and sprinkle water on it, then perform Salah (prayer) there.’ I then asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about performing Salah (prayer) on a roadside. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not an offense to perform Salah (prayer) in such place but not in the middle of a road.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is undesirable to perform Salah (prayer) on salt grounds unless there is a soft area on which the forehead can rest in a level manner.’ He (the narrator) has said that he then asked him (the Imam) about performing Salah (prayer) in al-Bi‘ah (Church). He (the Imam) said, ‘If you can face al-Qiblah (al-Ka‘bah), then it is not an offense to perform Salah (prayer) there.’ He (the narrator) has said that I saw him (the Imam) in rest areas on the road to Makkah sometimes sprinkle water on the place for his forehead during Sajdah (prostration), and perform Sajdah (prostration) when still wet, as he (the Imam) sometimes would not sprinkle water if it was fine (already wet). He (the narrator) has said that he asked him (the Imam) about a man who sails in water and time for Salah (prayer) arrives. He (the Imam) said, ‘If he is in a war only making gestures for Salah (prayer) is sufficient but if he is a merchant, he is not to sail before performing Salah (prayer).’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Do not perform Salah (prayer) in a house in which there is a Zoroastrian, but it is not a offense if there is a Jew or a Christian.’”

“I once said to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), ‘We were in al-Bayda’ (name of a place) toward the end of the night. I took Wudu’, brushed my teeth and I intended to perform Salah (prayer), then it occurred to me. Is it permissible to perform Salah (prayer), in al-Bayda’ in the carriage? He (the Imam) said, ‘Do not perform Salah (prayer) in al-Bayda’.’ I then asked, ‘What are the limits of al- Bayda’?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), would on reaching Dhat al-Jaysh travel faster. He (the Imam) would not perform Salah (prayer) until reaching Mu‘arras of the Holy prophet.’ I then asked, ‘Where is Dhat al-Jaysh?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is three miles before al-Hafirah.’”

“Al-Rida’ (a.s.), has said, ‘Do not perform Salah (prayer) on any road which is used, regardless, it has a main path or not. It is not proper to perform Salah (prayer) on it.’ I then asked, ‘Where then one can perform Salah (prayer)?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘On its right or left sides.’”

“I once asked abu al-Hassan, the last (a.s.), ‘It becomes the time for Salah (prayer) and one is in al-Bayda’ (name of a place). What is he to do?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘One moves away from the center toward the right or left, then performs Salah (prayer).”’

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is undesirable to perform Salah (prayer) in three locations of roads. They are al-Bayda’ which is Dhat al-Jaysh, Dhat al-Salasil, and Dajnan (names of places).’ He (the narrator) has said that he (the Imam) then said, ‘It is not an offense to perform Salah (prayer) above the main road but it is undesirable to perform Salah (prayer) on the main road.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Salah (prayer) is not performed in al-Shuqrah valley.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Salah (prayer) is not performed in ten places, such as in clay, water, bath houses, on graves, on main roads, ant’s colonies, camel’s barns, water beds, salt grounds and on snow.’”

“I once asked abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), about what is clay on which Sajdah (prostration) cannot be performed. He (the Imam) said, ‘Clay is that on which one’s forehead sinks lower and lower without remaining in one place on earth.’ I asked about a man who performs Salah (prayer) on graves. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not permissible unless he places something between himself and the graves when performing Salah (prayer), like a distance of ten yards from his front side and from his back side, ten yards from the right and ten yards from the left; then he can perform Salah (prayer) if he wanted.’”

“I once said to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), ‘I may go in this direction and may not find a place to perform Salah (prayer) because of snow. He (the Imam) said, ‘If possible, do not perform Sajdah (prostration) on snow and if not, then level it and perform Sajdah (prostration) on it.’” In another Hadith it is said, ‘Perform Sajdah (prostration) on your clothes.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who performs Salah (prayer) and in front of him there is an open copy of Quran. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, it is not permissible.’ I then asked, ‘What happens if it is in a cover?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, it is permissible.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘One is not to perform Salah (prayer) with a fire in front of him, or iron.’ He (the Imam) was asked about a man who performs Salah (prayer) with a chandelier hanging in his front with fire in it except that it is his view. He (the Imam) said, ‘When it is higher it is evil. One is not to perform Salah (prayer) with it in one’s view.’”

“I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about a man who performs Salah (prayer) with a lamp placed in his front in the direction of al-Qiblah (al-Ka‘bah). He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not proper for him to face fire.’ It is also narrated that it is not an offense because the One for whom Salah (prayer) is performed is closer to one (person performing Salah (prayer)).”’

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘I stand up for Salah (prayer) and see feces in the direction of al-Qiblah (al-Ka‘bah). He (the Imam) said, ‘Keep away from it as much as you can and do not perform Salah (prayer) on a main road.’”

“One of the two Imam, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, has said, ‘Do not perform obligatory Salah (prayer) in al- Ka‘bah.’” In another Hadith it is narrated that Salah (prayer) is performed toward four directions if one has no choice but to do so.”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘Can one perform Salah (prayer) on abu Qubays (name of the hill) facing the direction of al-Qiblah (al-Ka‘bah)? He (the Imam) said, ‘There is no offense in it.”’

“I once asked one of the two Imam, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, about pictures in the house. He (the Imam) said, ‘There is no offense in it if it is on your right, left, behind you or under your feet. If it is in the direction of al-Qiblah (al-Ka‘bah), then cover it with a piece of cloth.’”

“I once asked al-Rida’ (a.s.), about the case of one who at the time of Salah (prayer) is on the top of al-Ka‘bah. He (the Imam) said, ‘If he stands up there is no al-Qiblah (al-Ka‘bah) for him; however, he lies down on his back and opens his eyes to the sky and keeps in his heart al-Qiblah which is in the heaven, al-Bayt al-Ma‘mur, does the recitation and for Ruku‘ (bowing down on one’s knees) closes his eyes. When intending to raise his head from Ruku‘ opens his eyes and for Sujud (prostrations) he does the same.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about pictures on furnishings which come in one’s view has said, ‘If there is one eye for it, it is not harmful but if it has two eyes then it is not permissible.’”

“We once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a roof on which there is urine. Can one perform Salah (prayer) there? He (the Imam) said, ‘If sun rays and wind can reach it and it is dry, there is no offense in it unless it is used as a urinating place.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Salah (prayer) is not performed in a house where wine and intoxicating items exist.’”

“I once asked abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of these houses where people lodge, in which there is urine of animals and dung, where Jews and Christians enter. How is one to perform Salah (prayer)? He (the Imam) said, ‘Perform Salah (prayer) on your clothes.’”

foiiowing: “Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘Jibril said, “O Messenger of Allah, we do not enter a house in which there are pictures of a human being, or a house used for urinating or a house where a dog exists.’””

foiiowing: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Jibril came to me and said, “We the community of angels do not enter a house in which a dog exists, or there is a statue of a body or there is a pot with urine in it.””