Performing Salat (prayer) in Complete Form in the Two Sacred Places

“I once wrote to abu Ja‘far (a.s.), asking him about performing salat (prayer) in complete form in the two sacred places. He (the Imam) wrote back for me, ‘The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, liked to perform a great deal of salat (prayer) in the two sacred places. You should also do so, that is, you should perform in complete form.’”

“I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about performing Salat (prayer) in complete form and fasting in the two al-Haram (the sacred places); Masjid al-Haram and Masjid of al-Madinah. He (the Imam) said, ‘You should perform Salat (prayer) in complete form, even if it is one Salat (prayer).”’

“I once asked abu Ibrahim (a.s.), about performing Salat (prayer) in reduced form in Makkah. He (the Imam) said, ‘You should perform in complete form; but it is not obligatory, except that I like for you what I like for myself.’”

“I once asked abu Ibrahim (a.s.), about performing Salat (prayer) in complete form in the two al-Haram (the sacred places), (Masjid al-Haram and Masjid of al-Madinah). He (the Imam) said, ‘I like for you what I like for myself. You should perform Salat (prayer) in complete form.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is a saving to perform Salat (prayer) in complete form in the two al-Haram (the sacred places), (Masjid al-Haram and Masjid of al-Madinah).”’

“I once asked abu Ibrahim (a.s.), ‘When we enter Makkah or al-Madinah, should we perform Salat (prayer) in complete or reduced form?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If you perform in reduced form it is what it is; and if you perform in complete form it, then is an increasing good.’”

“Abu Ibrahim (a.s.), has said, ‘My father (a.s.), would see for these two al- Haram (the sacred area) what he would not see for other places and say that performing Salat (prayer) therein in complete form is of the saving matters.’”

“I once wrote to abu Ja‘far (a.s.), that Ahadith from your ancestors about performing Salat (prayer) in the two al-Haram (the Sacred places) in complete form exist in disagreement. Certain ones say that it is in complete form even if it is just one Salat (prayer) and others say that it is in reduced form unless you decide to stay there for ten days. I however continue to perform in complete form until this year during our al-Hajj, when our scholars of fiqh advised me to perform in reduced form because I did not intend to stay for ten days; so I turned to reduced form and I remain stressed until I receive your instruction. He (the Imam) wrote to me with his own hand writing, ‘You have come to know, may Allah grant you blessings, of the virtue of the performing Salat (prayer) in the two al-Haram (the Sacred places), over the other places; thus I like for you that when you enter them not to perform your Salat (prayer) in reduced form. You should perform a great deal of Salat (prayer) therein.’ I then after two years spoke to him about it face to face saying, ‘I wrote to you about such and such issues and you answered as such and such.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, so it was.’ I then asked, ‘What do you mean by the two al-Haram (the Sacred places)?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is Makkah and al-Madinah.’” NOTE: Fatwa best explains Hadith 2-8 of this Chapter)