Salaah In The Haram Sharif

Question

Q1. Inside Masjid al-Ḥarām, during Fardh Salaah, the Imaam leads from an enclosed area not directly connected to any Saff. In many parts of the Ḥaram Sharif, people do not form continuous rows, but rather perform Salaah wherever they find space — for example, near the escalators, along the walkways, or in smaller sections. Barriers are also placed inside the courtyard, and people pray within these separated enclosures. Is the Salaah in such places valid when the Saffs are not physically connected?

Q2. Outside the Masjid, people often perform Salaah behind the Imaam, on the roads leading from the Ḥaram Sharif. Additionally, some hotels such as the Fairmont/Clock Tower are built adjoining the Ḥaram Sharif. These hotels have Musallahs where Salaah is performed in line with the Ḥaram Imaam, though they are inside the building and separated by walls and public passageways. Is following the Imaam, who is based inside the Haram, from such hotel Musallahs valid?

Mufti Abdul Kader Fazlani · Accepted Answer

A1. Salaah should be performed in continuous Sufoof (rows) as this is the Sunnah method. However, if the Salaah is performed in the manner explained in the query, then although it will be valid it will be contrary to the Sunnah.

A2. In this instance, if the Salaah is being performed on the white marble area, then the Salaah will be valid although there are gaps between the Sufoof (rows), as this area falls under the courtyard of the Masjid which has the ruling of the Masjid.

If Salaah is being performed on the road (past the white marble area), then it is necessary that the Sufoof (rows) which are on the road be joined to the Sufoof (rows) of the white marble area. However, if there is a huge gap such that there is a gap of two Saffs (rows), then following the Imaam of the Haram will not be correct and the Salaah will not be valid. The same ruling will apply to the Musallahs in the hotels.

Also, in the query you have stated that these Musallahs are separated by passage ways, which to our understanding, are more than two Saffs (rows) hence, following the Imaam from these Musallas will not be correct.

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