Praying in a place the earth has swallowed

Hujr bin Anbas al-Hadrami said: We set out with Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) towards al-Nahrawan. When we reached Babylon, the time of the Asr prayer came. We said: "The time of prayer has come." He remained silent. Then we said: "The time of prayer has come." He remained silent. When he had left Babylon, he then prayed, and then said three times: "I did not want to pray in a land that has been swallowed up (by the earth)."

Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) regarded it as disliked to pray in a place that had been swallowed up (by the earth).

Ibn Abi al-Muhill said: Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) passed by the edge of Babylon and did not pray there.