Is Mina part of Meccah? Print

Q: 104 – Title: Is Mina part of Meccah?

Question

I reached Makkah on 5th Zil-hijjah and had intention to stay for 25 days after Haj. Please explain whether I would be considered as 'musafir' or 'muqeem' in Mina, Muzdalfa and Arafat during Haj and would I offer qasr prayers or in full? I affered zuhr and Asr prayers in Masjid Khaif (Mina) and the imam offered qasr prayers. Should

I have completed 4 rakats in this case? Please explain logic behind your answer (as per hanafi fiqh) since there was a lot of confusion on this issue.

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salamu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullahi wa-barakatuh.

As a principle, it is important to understand that if an individual qualifies as Muqeem (temporary resident) in a particular city, then he must perform his Sal?h in full in his temporary residence and also in the surrounding cities that are situated within Masafah al-Safar (distance that qualifies an individual as a Musafir) of his temporary residence.[1]

Based on the aforementioned, if an individual stays in Makkah Mukarramah for 15 days or more prior to his departure to Mina, then he will be considered a Muqeem in Makkah. Therefore, he will perform his Salah in full in Mina, Arafah, and Muzdalifah since they are in close proximity to Makkah Mukarramah. However, if an individual stays in Makkah Mukarramah for less than 15 days prior to leaving to Mina, he will be considered a Musafir in Makkah Mukarramah. Hence, he will shorten his prayers (Qasr) in Mina, Arafah and Muzdalifah unless he performs Sal?h behind a local resident.[2] This ruling is based on the opinion that Mina, Arafah, and Muzdalifah are not part of Makkah Mukarramah.

If the Imam in Masjid al-Khaif or Masjid al-Namirah is a Muqim and he performs only two Rak’at for Dhuhr and two Rak’at for Asr (based on their Madhab of Qasr for Haj), then the obligation of Salah for the Hanafi followers is not fulfilled.[3]

In such a situation, one should investigate whether the Imam is a Musafir or a Muqim. In the case he is a Muqim or it is unknown[4], the Hanafi followers should not follow such an Imam. However, if a Hanafi follower did perform Salah behind the Imam, the Salah will be considered Nafl and he would have to perform the Fardh Salah afterwards.

Note: The Darul Iftaa’s view is that Mina is a separate place and is not part of Makkah Mukarramah. There is however a difference of opinion between competent Muftis in this regard. Our advice to you is that you choose a reliable Mufti and seek all Hajj related verdicts only from him. This will protect you from further confusion.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best

Abdul Azim bin Abdur Rahman,
Student Darul Iftaa
U.S.A.
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.