He should face the qiblah, even if the mountain is behind him, because the Ka‘bah is superior to the mountain. Among the common people, however, they face the mountain, but this stems from ignorance. Students of knowledge must explain to people that what is prescribed is to face the qiblah.
Question: Is climbing the mountain prescribed?
Answer: As for one who climbs it as an act of worship, climbing it is prohibited, because that would be an innovation, and every innovation is misguidance.
But if someone climbs it merely for sightseeing, that is permissible, so long as he is not a person whom people take as an example; otherwise, it is prohibited.
And if someone climbs it in order to guide ignorant people concerning what they do or say atop the mountain, then climbing it is prescribed—or obligatory, depending on the circumstances. For we hear that some ignorant people, when they climb the mountain, write inscriptions and place rags and other objectionable things upon it. So if a student of knowledge goes there to guide the people and explain that this is an innovation and should not be done, then we say that it is prescribed, either as an obligation or as a recommended act.
His statement, “and he frequently makes supplications from those transmitted”: the word “from” here denotes category; that is, his supplications should be among those transmitted from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. Or he may frequently supplicate for what he wishes, as well as with what has been transmitted; on this understanding, “from” denotes part of a whole, thus giving particular mention to the transmitted supplications.
This is how a person ought to be: he should choose the supplications transmitted from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, whether they were transmitted for this particular place or for another place. For the Prophet’s supplications are the most comprehensive and most beneficial of supplications, and they come from the one most knowledgeable of Allah and most aware of what Allah, Most High, loves. Therefore, we should adhere to the Prophet’s supplications, even if we find rhymed supplications that may perhaps soften the heart, among them being that