Places Where Prayer is Permissable and Where it is Not Permissable

Hadith.724 - The Prophet, said: "I was given five things that no one was given before me: The entire earth was made a place of prayer and a means of purification for me, I was aided with fear (cast into the hearts of my enemies), war booty was made lawful for me, I was given concise speech (Jawaami' al-Kalim), and I was granted intercession."

Hadith.725 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "There are ten places where prayer should not be performed: mud, water, baths, graves, paths frequently used by travelers, ant hills, camel resting places, watercourses, salty land (sabkha), and snow”.

Hadith.726 - It is narrated that prayer should not be performed in al-Bayda', Dhat al-Salasil, the valley of al-Shaqra, or the valley of Dajnan.

Hadith.727 - Ali ibn Ja'far asked his brother Imam Musa ibn Jafar Al-Kadhim (as) about praying in the bathhouse. Imam (as) said: "If the place is clean, then there is no harm in praying, referring specifically to the changing area (maslakh).”

Hadith.728 - Imam Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha (as) said: "Any path that is trodden and commonly used, whether it has a main road or not, should not be used for prayer." He was asked: "Then where should one pray?" Imam (as) said: "To the right or to the left (of the path)."

Hadith.729 - And Halabi asked Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) about praying in sheep pens, and Imam (as) said: "Pray there, but do not pray in camel enclosures unless you fear for the safety of your belongings; in that case, sweep it and sprinkle it with water, then pray there." He also said: "Prayer in a salty land (sabkha) is disliked unless it is a soft, level place where the forehead can rest properly."

Hadith.730 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) was asked about praying in the houses of the Magians (Zoroastrians) if they are sprinkled with water, and He said: "There is no harm in it." He then mentioned that he sometimes saw someone on the road to Makkah sprinkling water on the spot where they placed their forehead before prostrating, while at other times, they did not sprinkle water if they deemed the place to be clean.

Hadith.731 - Saleh ibn Al-Hakam reported that Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) was asked about praying in synagogues and churches. Imam (as) said: "Pray in them." Salih then asked: "Even if they (non-Muslims) are praying there?" Imam (as) said: "Yes. Do you not recite the Qur'an: 'Say, each acts according to their manner, but your Lord (azj) knows best who is rightly guided' (Surah Al-Isra, 17:84)? Pray facing the Qibla and leave them (to their practices)."

Hadith.732 – Zurarah asked Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) about urine that is present on a rooftop or in a place where one prays. Imam (as) said: "If the sun dries it, then you may pray on it, for it is purified”.

Hadith.733 - Amir ibn Nuaym al-Qummi asked Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) about places where people stay that contain the urine of animals, manure, and are frequented by Jews and Christians. He asked: "What should we do about praying in such places?" Abu 'Abdillah replied: "Pray on your garment."

Hadith.734 - Ali ibn Mahziyar asked Abu Al-Hasan the Third, Imam Ali ibn Muhammad Al-Hadi (as), about a man who finds himself in the desert (al-Bayda') when the time for an obligatory prayer comes and does not leave the desert until the prayer's time has passed. He asked: "What should he do about the prayer, given that it is prohibited to pray in al-Bayda'?" Imam (as) said: "He should pray there, but he should avoid the main path (road)."

by Ayyub ibn Nuh that He said: "One should move away from the main roads to the right or to the left and pray."

Hadith.736 - Ali ibn Ja'far asked his brother Imam Musa ibn Jafar Al-Kadhim (as) about a house or room that does not receive sunlight and in which urine might be present and where one bathes after major ritual impurity (janabah). He asked if it is permissible to pray there once it has dried? Imam (as) said: "Yes." Ali ibn Ja'far also asked about praying between graves? Imam (as) said: "There is no harm in it."

Hadith.737 - Ammar ibn Musa al-Sabati asked Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) about a mat made of reeds that had been wetted with impure water, and whether it is permissible to pray on it. Imam (as) said: "If it has dried, then there is no harm in praying on it”.

Hadith.738 – Zurarah asked Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) about a cushion (shadhakunah) that may have come into contact with major ritual impurity (janabah) and whether it is permissible to pray on it while it is in a carriage (mahmil). Imam (as) said: "There is no harm in praying on it."

"There is no harm in praying on any images (representations) if you place them beneath you."

Hadith.740 - Laith al-Muradi asked Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) about cushions in the house that have images on them, whether they are to the right or to the left. Imam (as) said: "There is no harm in it as long as they are not facing the Qibla. If any of them are in front of you, facing the Qibla, then cover them and pray."

Hadith.741 – He, Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as), was asked about images on a carpet that have two eyes while you are praying. Imam (as) said: "If it has one eye, then there is no harm, but if it has two eyes and you are praying, then it is not permissible."

Hadith.742 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "There is no harm in praying while looking at images if they have only one eye."

Hadith.743 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "Do not pray in a house where there is a dog, except if it is a hunting dog and you have closed a door between you and it, then there is no harm. Indeed, the angels do not enter a house where there is a dog, nor a house with images, nor a house with urine collected in a container."

"Whoever is in a place where they cannot reach the ground should make gestures (for prayer), even if they are in a remote area”.

Hadith.745 - Sama’a ibn Mehran asked Him about a captive taken by the polytheists who is prevented from performing prayer by his captor. Imam (as) said: "He should make gestures (for prayer)."

Hadith.746 - Muawiya ibn Wahb asked Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) about a man and a woman praying in the same room. Imam (as) said: "If there is a space of about a handspan (shibr) between them, She may pray beside him alone and he alone; there is no harm."

Hadith.747 - In the narration of Zurarah from Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as), said: "If there is a distance between her and him that is about the length of a step or about the length of a cubit or more, then there is no harm if She prays beside him alone."

"There is no harm if a woman prays beside a man while he is praying. Indeed, The Prophet (sw) would pray while Aisha was lying down in front of him, even though She was menstruating. When he wanted to prostrate, he would touch her legs, and She would move them so that he could prostrate."