What is the ruling on praying in a slaughterhouse (Al-Majzara) or a public refuse site (Al-Mazbalah) or the middle of a thoroughfare (Mahajja al-Tariq)?
Chapter on Praying with Impurity and Other Matters
Al-Mughni
Book of Prayer
Primary text
Some jurists include the refuse site, slaughterhouse, middle of the road, the top of the Ka'bah, and a usurped place among the prohibited areas for prayer, based on the Hadith from Ibn Umar that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "Seven places where prayer is not valid: the top of the House of Allah, the cemetery, the refuse site, the slaughterhouse, the bathhouse, the camel resting place, and the middle of the road." The ruling in these seven places is the same as in the four initially mentioned, as these locations are presumed to harbor impurities, and the ruling is attached to the presumed location rather than the actual presence of impurity, similar to how the ruling of breaking ablution is attached to sleep.
Supporting text
Al-Kharqi's omission of these sites suggests he permitted prayer there, which is the position of the majority of scholars based on the general permission: "The earth has been made for me a place of prayer." They argue that the specific prohibitions only exclude the cemetery, bathhouse, and camel resting places based on authentic special Hadith, leaving all other places under the general rule. The chain of narration for the seven-place Hadith is questioned, making the general ruling preferable over their specific narrations, although many scholars adhere to the seven-place prohibition.