prayer, fasting, charity, Hajj, and ‘umrah, since these are acts of a kind prescribed as obligatory by Islamic law. He does not, however, regard a vow to undertake a devotional retreat as binding, for he holds that a devotional retreat is valid only when accompanied by fasting. This is also the position of Mālik and, according to one of the two reports from him, Ahmad.

The majority cite as evidence the report narrated by al-Bukhārī in his Sahīh from ‘Ā’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“Whoever vows to obey Allah, let him obey Him; and whoever vows to disobey Allah, let him not disobey Him.”

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, thus commanded everyone who vows to obey Allah to fulfil that vow. He did not stipulate that the act of obedience must be of a kind prescribed as obligatory by Islamic law. This opinion is more correct.

The same disagreement applies if someone vows to travel to the Prophet’s Mosque, even though it is superior to al-Aqsā Mosque. If, however, someone vows to visit the Sacred Mosque for Hajj or ‘umrah, the scholars unanimously agree that he must fulfil his vow.

The Sacred Mosque is the best of all mosques, followed by the Prophet’s Mosque, then al-Aqsā Mosque. It is established in both Sahīh collections that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“One prayer in this mosque of mine is better than a thousand prayers in any other mosque, except the Sacred Mosque.”

The majority of scholars hold that prayer in the Sacred Mosque is superior to prayer in the Prophet’s Mosque, peace and blessings be upon him. Ahmad, al-Nasā’ī, and others have narrated