Fath al-Rabbani

Benefits: … For general readers, there appears to be a contradiction in the aforementioned hadiths, because according to the statement of Sayyiduna Usamah radi Allahu anhu, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam did not perform prayer inside the Ka'bah, but according to the narration of Sayyiduna Bilal and Sayyiduna Uthman radi Allahu anhuma, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam did perform prayer inside the Ka'bah. In reality, there is no contradiction in this matter; the hadith scholars are unanimous that in this chapter, the hadith of Sayyiduna Bilal radi Allahu anhu should be taken, because he had greater knowledge and his narration is affirmative, which is given precedence over a negating narration. According to the entire incident, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and the noble Companions entered the House of Allah and closed the door, and everyone became engaged in supplication, so it is possible that Sayyiduna Usamah radi Allahu anhu did not see the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam performing prayer, while Sayyiduna Bilal radi Allahu anhu did see him. Some scholars are of the opinion that these are two separate incidents, as Imam Ibn Hibban said: In my view, the preferred opinion is that these two hadiths pertain to two different events; on the occasion of the Conquest of Makkah, when the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam entered the House of Allah, he performed prayer, but on the occasion of the Farewell Pilgrimage (Hajjat al-Wada'), he entered but did not perform prayer. (Summary from Sahih Ibn Hibban: 7/483) After reconciliation, it is understood that performing both obligatory (fard) and supererogatory (nafl) prayers inside the structure of the Ka'bah is permissible; this is the view of the majority of scholars, including Imam Ahmad and Imam Abu Hanifah, because in such a non-compulsive situation, the ruling regarding the qiblah is the same for both nafl and fard prayers.