Residence in Mecca: Difference between revisions

==View of Shi'a Jurists==

Shi'a jurists have held two views on residency in [[Mecca]]: the well-known view and the less well-known view.

According to the well-known view of Imami jurists,<ref>''Al-Durus'', vol. 1, p. 471; ''Madarik al-Ahkam'', vol. 8, p. 271; ''Kifayat al-Ahkam'', vol. 1, p. 360.</ref> residing (iqamah) in Mecca is reprehensible (makruh).<ref>''Al-Mabsut'', vol. 1, p. 385; ''Tadhkirat al-Fuqaha'', vol. 8, p. 447; ''Jawahir al-Kalam'', vol. 20, p. 70.</ref> Their support comes from narrations from [[Imam Sadiq (a)]]<ref>''Al-Kafi'', vol. 4, pp. 227 and 230; ''Al-Tahdhib'', vol. 5, pp. 420 and 448; ''Man La Yahduruhu al-Faqih'', vol. 2, pp. 252 and 254.</ref> which emphasize not residing in Mecca and leaving it after performing [[Hajj]]. Also, some narrations describe the practice of [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]] of leaving Mecca after performing the Hajj rituals.<ref>''Man La Yahduruhu al-Faqih'', vol. 2, p. 194; ''Ilal al-Shara'i'', vol. 2, p. 446.</ref> It is reported that [[Imam Ali (a)]] never spent the night in Mecca because the Prophet (s) had migrated from Mecca.<ref>See: ''Bihar al-Anwar'', vol. 96, p. 82.</ref>

In narrations and jurisprudential sources, several reasons are mentioned for this reprehensibility, including: the hardening of the heart due to residency in Mecca,<ref>''Ilal al-Shara'i'', vol. 2, p. 446; ''Al-Muqni'ah'', p. 444.</ref> the greater ugliness of committing sins in Mecca compared to other places,<ref>''Al-Durus'', vol. 1, p. 471; ''Wasa'il al-Shi'ah'', vol. 13, pp. 231-232; ''Jawahir al-Kalam'', vol. 20, p. 70.</ref> the forced departure (migration) of the Prophet (PBUH) from Mecca,<ref>''Ilal al-Shara'i'', vol. 2, p. 446.</ref> the loss of respect for Mecca due to continuous presence there,<ref>See: ''Masalik al-Ifham'', vol. 2, p. 380.</ref> the necessity of maintaining a desire to be present in Mecca, and avoiding weariness due to residency there.<ref>''Al-Kafi'', vol. 4, p. 230; ''Man La Yahduruhu al-Faqih'', vol. 2, p. 254.</ref>

In contrast, there are narrations from which the recommendability of residing in Mecca can be understood;<ref>''Al-Tahdhib'', vol. 5, p. 476.</ref> <ref>''Al-Kafi'', vol. 2, p. 612; ''Man La Yahduruhu al-Faqih'', vol. 2, p. 226.</ref><ref>''Al-Mahasin'', vol. 1, p. 68; ''Al-Tahdhib'', vol. 5, p. 468.</ref> The purport of these narrations is the superiority of residing in Mecca over residing in other cities, the equivalence of eating in Mecca to fasting elsewhere,<ref>''Man La Yahduruhu al-Faqih'', vol. 2, p. 227.</ref> and the equivalence of sleeping in Mecca to night vigil<ref>''Man La Yahduruhu al-Faqih'', vol. 2, p. 228.</ref> and [[Jihad]] or [[martyrdom]] in other lands.