Performing forty prayers in Al-Haraam Mosque during Hajj

29/11/2009| IslamWeb

Question:

I have not read much about Hajj yet and intend to go for Hajj this year Inshaa Allah. Many people tell us that in order to perform Hajj we must read 40 prayers in al-Masjid al-Haraam. Is this true? I have 3 children and do not have anyone to tend to them for such a long time. Allah (SWT) is the best of planners but we would like to know if this is only traditional or compulsory.

 

Fatwa:

 

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His Slave and Messenger.

 

A person who performs Hajj or 'Umrah is not obliged to perform forty prayers in Al-Haraam mosque in Makkah or in Madeenah, and there is no authentic narration, as far as we know, in this regard, and no scholar has ever stated that it is an obligation to do so. On the contrary, there is evidence in the Sunnah that the prayer of a woman in her own home was better than her praying behind the Prophet in the Prophet's mosque in Madeenah.

 

Allah Knows best.

 

Fatwa answered by: The Fatwa Center at Islamweb