الكافي- ط الاسلامية, volume 4, page 525

8. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad and Ahmad ibn Muhammad from all from Ali ibn Mahziyar from who has said the following: “I once wrote to abu Ja‘far (a.s.), that Ahadith from your ancestors about performing Salat (prayer) in the two al-Haram (the Sacred places) in complete form exist in disagreement. Certain ones say that it is in complete form even if it is just one Salat (prayer) and others say that it is in reduced form unless you decide to stay there for ten days. I however continue to perform in complete form until this year during our al-Hajj, when our scholars of fiqh advised me to perform in reduced form because I did not intend to stay for ten days; so I turned to reduced form and I remain stressed until I receive your instruction. He (the Imam) wrote to me with his own hand writing, ‘You have come to know, may Allah grant you blessings, of the virtue of the performing Salat (prayer) in the two al-Haram (the Sacred places), over the other places; thus I like for you that when you enter them not to perform your Salat (prayer) in reduced form. You should perform a great deal of Salat (prayer) therein.’ I then after two years spoke to him about it face to face saying, ‘I wrote to you about such and such issues and you answered as such and such.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, so it was.’ I then asked, ‘What do you mean by the two al-Haram (the Sacred places)?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is Makkah and al-Madinah.’” NOTE: Fatwa best explains Hadith 2-8 of this Chapter)

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from al-Hassan ibn al-Jahm who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan, al-Rida (a.s.), about the most excellent place for salat (prayer) in Masjid al-Haram (the Sacred Masjid). He (the Imam) replied, ’It is al-Hatim, between the Black Stone and the door of the house.’ I then asked, ‘Which place is excellent thereafter?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is Maqam of Ibrahim (a.s.) .’ I then asked which one is excellent thereafter?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is inside al-Hijr.’ I then asked, ‘Which is excellent thereafter?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Whichever is closer to the House.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.

2. Abu Ali al-Ash’ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan ibn Yahya abu Ayyub al-Khazzaz from abu ‘Ubaydah who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), if performing Salat (prayer) in all of al-Haram (the sacred area) is of the same degree of virtue. He (the Imam) said, ‘O abu ‘Ubaydah, all Salat (prayer) in Masjid al-Haram are not of the same degree of virtue; then how can it be the same in all of al-Haram (the sacred area)?’ I then asked, ‘Which part of it is more excellent?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is between the door and the Black Stone.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from Yunus who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about al-Multazam, for what reason it is held and what is said in it. He (the Imam) said, ‘Nearby there is a canal of the canals of paradise in which the deeds of the servants (of Allah) are thrown every Thursday.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.