Praying in camel pens

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mughaffal al-Muzani (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Pray in the sheepfolds, but do not pray in the places where camels are tethered, for they were created from devils."

Sayyiduna al-Bara' bin Azib (may Allah be pleased with him) said: the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about praying in the places where camels are tethered, and he said: "Do not pray in them." Then he was asked about praying in the sheepfolds, and he said: "Pray in them, for there is blessing in them."

This hadith is reported through another chain, but it does not mention "fa innaha barakah" (for they are a blessing).

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When you find no place to pray except the sheepfolds and the places where camels are tethered, then pray in the sheepfolds and do not pray in the places where camels are tethered."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Sabrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Prayer is not to be offered in the places where camels are tethered, but prayer may be offered in the places where sheep are kept."

Sayyiduna Jabir bin Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Prayer may be offered in the sheepfolds, but prayer is not to be offered in the places where camels are tethered.

Ma'iz bin Nadlah said: Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) came to us and prayed in the sheepfold.

Hisham bin Urwah said: A man told me that he asked Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) about praying in the places where camels are tethered. He forbade him and said: "You may pray in the place where sheep are kept."

Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray in the sheepfolds before the mosque was built.

Isma'il bin Abd al-Rahman said: Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) prayed in a place where there were traces of sheep and camels having stayed.

Asim bin al-Mundhir said: Sayyiduna Ibn al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him) went to Muzdalifah at a time other than the months of Hajj, and there he led us in prayer in a sheepfold, even though there were other places where he could have led us in prayer. My view is that he wanted to show us that praying in such a place is permissible.

Muhammad (Ibn Sirin) said: When the predecessors found no place other than the sheepfolds and the places where camels are tethered, they would give preference to the sheepfolds.

Ibrahim said: Pray in the place where sheep stay.

Abbad bin Rashid said: Al-Hasan considered praying in the places where camels are tethered disliked (makruh), and saw no harm in praying in the sheepfolds.

Ubayd bin Umayr used to say: I have a young goat that sleeps in my place of prayer and also drops its dung there.

Amir said: Jundub bin Amir al-Sulami used to pray in the enclosures of sheep and camels.

Sayyiduna Jabir bin Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: We would pray in the sheepfolds, but we would not pray in the places where camels are tethered.

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Pray in the sheepfolds, but do not pray in the camels' enclosure.

Ibrahim said: There is no harm in praying in the place where sheep are kept.

Waki' considered praying in the enclosure of camels valid, and he did not hold that eating camel meat breaks the ablution (wudu).

Sayyiduna Jabir bin Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered us to pray in the sheepfolds and not to pray in the enclosures of camels.