Hadith record

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hammad from al-Halabiy who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the barn of sheep. He (the Imam) said, ‘You can perform Salah (prayer) there but do not perform Salah (prayer) in the place where camels are kept, unless you are afraid for loss of your property, in which case, you can sweep and sprinkle water on it, then perform Salah (prayer) there.’ I then asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about performing Salah (prayer) on a roadside. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not an offense to perform Salah (prayer) in such place but not in the middle of a road.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is undesirable to perform Salah (prayer) on salt grounds unless there is a soft area on which the forehead can rest in a level manner.’ He (the narrator) has said that he then asked him (the Imam) about performing Salah (prayer) in al-Bi‘ah (Church). He (the Imam) said, ‘If you can face al-Qiblah (al-Ka‘bah), then it is not an offense to perform Salah (prayer) there.’ He (the narrator) has said that I saw him (the Imam) in rest areas on the road to Makkah sometimes sprinkle water on the place for his forehead during Sajdah (prostration), and perform Sajdah (prostration) when still wet, as he (the Imam) sometimes would not sprinkle water if it was fine (already wet). He (the narrator) has said that he asked him (the Imam) about a man who sails in water and time for Salah (prayer) arrives. He (the Imam) said, ‘If he is in a war only making gestures for Salah (prayer) is sufficient but if he is a merchant, he is not to sail before performing Salah (prayer).’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.