They pray in the last rows even though there are rows in front of them that are not filled
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Fatwa number ( 20411 )
Q: In our mosque, there are shaykhs who pray in the last rows even though there are rows in front of them that are not filled. Sometimes I arrive late for the prayer, so when I enter, I am confused: should I tell the people in front of and behind them to move to the mosque wall? And is this situation a reason to pass in front of a praying person, even though it is forbidden? Please inform us, may Allah have mercy on you.
A : It is prescribed for the ma'mum (those praying behind the imam) to stand close together in the rows and not leave large gaps between them. If it happens that a row is far from the row in front of it, there is no blame on a person to pass in front of this row to take his place in the rows that are not complete; because the imam's sutrah (barrier) is the sutrah for those behind him. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: In our mosque, there are shaykhs who pray in the last rows even though there are rows in front of them that are not filled. Sometimes I arrive late for the prayer, so when I enter, I am confused: should I tell the people in front of and behind them to move to the mosque wall? And is this situation a reason to pass in front of a praying person, even though it is forbidden? Please inform us, may Allah have mercy on you.
A : It is prescribed for the ma'mum (those praying behind the imam) to stand close together in the rows and not leave large gaps between them. If it happens that a row is far from the row in front of it, there is no blame on a person to pass in front of this row to take his place in the rows that are not complete; because the imam's sutrah (barrier) is the sutrah for those behind him. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.