Question Summary:
Is Mina part of Meccah?

Question Detail:

I reached Makkah on 5th Zil-hijjah and had intention to stay for 25 days after Haj. Please explain whether I would be considered as 'musafir' or 'muqeem' in Mina, Muzdalfa and Arafat during Haj and would I offer qasr prayers or in full? I affered zuhr and Asr prayers in Masjid Khaif (Mina) and the imam offered qasr prayers. Should I have completed 4 rakats in this case? Please explain logic behind your answer (as per hanafi fiqh) since there was a lot of confusion on this issue.

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
As a principle, it is important to understand that if an individual qualifies as Muqeem (temporary resident) in a particular city, then he must perform his Salāh in full in his temporary residence and also in the surrounding cities that are situated within Masāfah al-Safar (distance that qualifies an individual as a Musāfir) of his temporary residence.[1]
Based on the aforementioned, if an individual stays in Makkah Mukarramah for 15 days or more prior to his departure to Mina, then he will be considered a Muqeem in Makkah. Therefore, he will perform his Salāh in full in Mina, Arafah, and Muzdalifah since they are in close proximity to Makkah Mukarramah. However, if an individual stays in Makkah Mukarramah for less than 15 days prior to leaving to Mina, he will be considered a Musāfir in Makkah Mukarramah. Hence, he will shorten his prayers (Qasr) in Mina, Arafah and Muzdalifah unless he performs Salāh behind a local resident.[2] This ruling is based on the opinion that Mina, Arafah, and Muzdalifah are not part of Makkah Mukarramah.
If the Imām in Masjid al-Khaif or Masjid al-Namirah is a Muqīm and he performs only two Rak’āt for Dhuhr and two Rak’āt for Asr (based on their Madhab of Qasr for Haj), then the obligation of Salāh for the Hanafī followers is not fulfilled.[3]
In such a situation, one should investigate whether the Imām is a Musāfir or a Muqīm. In the case he is a Muqīm or it is unknown[4], the Hanafī followers should not follow such an Imām. However, if a Hanafī follower did perform Salāh behind the Imām, the Salāh will be considered Nafl and he would have to perform the Fardh Salāh afterwards.
Note: The Darul Iftaa’s view is that Mina is a separate place and is not part of Makkah Mukarramah. There is however a difference of opinion between competent Muftis in this regard. Our advice to you is that you choose a reliable Mufti and seek all Hajj related verdicts only from him. This will protect you from further confusion.  
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Abdul Azīm bin Abdur Rahman,
Student Darul Iftaa
U.S.A.
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
 
 
Clarification
 
The Darul Iftaa has received queries regarding Mufti Ebrahim Desai Saheb’s teaching and affiliation with Madrassah In’aamiyya, Camperdown. The confusion is probably due to the previous Fatawaa and Google searches of Mufti Ebrahim Desai Saheb issued under the name of Darul Iftaa, Madrassah In’aamiyyah, Camperdown.
 
Mufti Ebrahim Desai Saheb has resigned from Madrassah In’aamiyya two years ago and has no affiliation with Madrassah In’aamiyya, Camperdown.
 
Mufti Saheb has established the Darul Iftaa in Durban that facilitates for post-Ulama courses and training Mufti’s. He teaches Hadeeth at Darul Uloom Nu’maniyyah.
 
Email: darululoomnumaniyyah@gmail.com or
arkhanar@telkomsa.net