What is the ruling on praying in camel resting places (Ma'aṭin al-Ibil)?
Chapter on Praying with Impurity and Other Matters
Al-Mughni
Book of Prayer
Primary text
There are differing narrations from Ahmad concerning prayer in places such as camel resting places. One narration holds that prayer is never valid there. Ali, Ibn Abbas, Ibn Umar, Ata, Al-Nakha'i, and Ibn al-Mundhir reported disapproval of praying in a cemetery. Ibn Umar, Jabir bin Samurah, Al-Hasan, Malik, Ishaq, and Abu Thawr held that prayer is permissible in sheep pens (Marabid al-Ghanam) but not in camel resting places (Mabaarik al-Ibil). A second narration from Ahmad, which is the madhhab of Malik, Abu Hanifah, and Al-Shafi'i, states that prayer in these places is valid provided they are not impure. This is evidenced by the Hadith, "The earth has been made for me a place of prayer and a means of purification," and "Wherever you are overtaken by prayer, pray, for it is a place of prayer." This implies that any location that is pure is valid for prayer, similar to the desert.
Supporting text
The preferred view is that prayer is invalid in camel resting places based on the Hadith: "The entire earth is a place of prayer except for the bathhouse and the cemetery," which is specific and takes precedence over the general narration. Further evidence includes the Hadith where a man asked the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, about praying in sheep pens (answered 'yes') and camel resting places (answered 'no'). Another Hadith states, "Do not pray in camel resting places, for they are from the devils." The prohibition implies invalidity, and this specific ruling takes precedence over the general permissibility.