Is it better for men and women who come to do'umrah to pray Taraweeh
in Makkah and Madinah in the hotel or in the Haram?
~
I know that it is mustahabb to offer Sunnah prayers (such as tahajjud)
at home, but if we are visiting Makkah or Madinah and are staying in
the hotel, is the ruling different? I mean, is it better to offer
Sunnah prayers in the hotel room or in the Haram? With regard to
women, for whom it is regarded as being preferable to offer obligatory
prayers at home – when my family travels with me to Makkah and
Madinah, is it better for them to offer the obligatory prayers in the
hotel or in the Haram?Are we regarded as travelling, as we are staying
in the hotel?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
The scholars differed as towhat is preferable in the case of Taraweeh
prayer: Is it better to offer it in the mosque in congregation or to
offer itat home individually? There are three opinions concerning
that:
1.
That offering it in congregation in the mosque is preferable. Thisis
the opinion of the earlier Hanafis, Ahmad ibnHanbal and the majority
of his companions.
We have quoted the evidence presented by those who hold this view, in
the answer to question no. 45781 , where we stated that we regard it
as more likely to be correct.
2.
That praying it individually at home is preferable. This is the view
of Maalik and al-Shaafa'i and most of their companions. Maalik (may
Allah have mercy onhim) quoted as evidence the action of the seniors
among his shaykhs and the senior Sahaabah.
Al-Shaafa'i (may Allah have mercy on him) quoted as evidence the
hadeeth of Zayd ibn Thaabit (may Allah be pleased with him), according
to which the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon
him) made a booth out of a reed mat in Ramadan and prayed init at
night, and some men among his Companions followed him in prayer. When
he realized that they were doing that, he started praying seated
(sothat people could not see him and follow him in prayer). Then he
came outto them and said: "I knowwhat you did. O people, pray in your
houses, for the best of a man's prayeris in his house, apart from the
obligatory prayers."
Narrated by al-Bukhaari (698) and Muslim (781).
Ibn 'Abd al-Barr (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
Maalik said: Rabee'ah and more than one of our scholars would leave
and not pray qiyaam with the people. Maalik said: And I also do that;
and the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him)
did not pray qiyaam except inhis house.
Al-Shaafa'i also quoted as evidence the hadeeth of Zayd ibn Thaabit,
which he quoted. And al-Shaafa'isaid: The point is further emphasized
by the fact that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peaceof Allah
be upon him) toldthem to pray qiyaam in their homes rather than inhis
mosque despite all thevirtue that there is in that.
End quote from al-Tamheed, 8/116
Ibn 'Abd al-Barr also said:
If offering a naafil prayer at home is better than offering it in the
mosque of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) in
which one prayer is better than a thousand prayers offered anywhere
else, what can be clearer than this? Hence Maalik and al-Shaafa'i, and
those whofollowed their path, thought that praying alone at home was
better in the case of all naafil prayers. If qiyaam is held in the
mosque in Ramadan, even with the smallest number of people, prayer at
home is still better.
End quote from al-Istidhkaar, 2/73
It should be noted that those imams who said that praying Taraweeh
alone at home is better than praying it in congregation in the mosque
only applied that to the one who has memorised some Qur'aan – or the
entire Qur'aan – and has the motivation topray at home and there is no
fear that he will become lazy and miss the prayer, and that the prayer
in congregation in the mosque will not be affected by his absence. If
these conditions are not met, then there is no doubt, according to
their view, that praying Taraweeh in congregationin the mosque is
better.
Al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
Our companions, the Iraqis, al-Saydalaani, al-Baghawi and others among
the Khorasanis said: The difference of opinion has to do with one who
has memorised Qur'aan and for whom there is no fear that he will
become lazy if he prays on his own and thatthe congregation in the
mosque will not be affected if he stays away. If one of these
conditions is not met, then praying in congregation is preferable and
there is no difference of opinion concerning that.
End quote from al-Majmoo', 4/31/
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