Ruling on reserving a place in the mosque with a prayer mat or the like

Question:
May Allah reward you. This person asks the Honorable Shaykh and says: In our neighborhood, one of the people who arrive early at the mosque reserves his place in the mosque on a continuous basis. He places a prayer mat in his place and then returns to it.

Answer:
If he arrives early at the mosque and prays whatever he can, then goes to another place in the mosque and places his mat while he is still in the mosque, there is nothing wrong with that. Or if he was early to the mosque and then a need arose, so he went out to perform wudu or to relieve himself quickly, and then returns, there is nothing wrong with placing something in his place to preserve it for him. However, if he places the mat in the mosque and goes to his errands and work, or sleeps, and then arrives at the last moment, this is forbidden for him and not permissible. It is also not permissible for anyone who is present in the mosque to leave this mat reserving the place; rather, it should be removed. Yes.