Should a pilgrim from Mecca shorten their prayers at the holy sites?

The majority of jurists (Shafi'i, Malik, and Ahmad) hold that the people of Makkah do not shorten or combine prayers in the holy sites because these sites do not reach the recognized distance for travel. Abu Hanifa, on the other hand, believes that they do combine and shorten prayers because the reason for it is the pilgrimage rituals (Nusuk), not travel.

The more preponderant opinion — and this is the choice of Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah — is that shortening and combining prayers are due to travel, and this is not restricted by distance, but rather by the readiness to depart and prepare provisions. Based on this, the people of Makkah would shorten and combine prayers with the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, during the Farewell Pilgrimage, without him ordering them to pray in full.

According to this preponderant opinion, it is permissible for a resident of Makkah to avail himself of the concessions of travel in Arafat and Muzdalifah, as these are separate from Makkah. As for Mina, out of caution, a resident of Makkah should not shorten or combine prayers there, because it has currently become part of Makkah's neighborhoods.