I hope you will give us a clear explanation on the issue of reserving places for prayer?

Question : He says: Have you given us a clear explanation on the issue of reserving places for prayer? And may Allah reward you with good, whether for the Friday prayer or otherwise.

Answer : First, the school of thought holds that there is no harm in reserving places in the Friday prayer and others for one who remains in the mosque or goes out to his house. The second opinion is that it is forbidden and not permissible, because the place is for the public, so whoever arrives first has the greater right to it. This is the closest to the principles of the Shari'ah. However, if a person is in the mosque, there is no harm in him reserving a place, so when the iqamah is called, he enters it, or when the rows connect, he stands and sits in it so that people do not step over him to sit. But the problem is if everyone reserves places, do I remain while they take the best places? This problem is similar to Mina; Mina is for whoever arrives first. But if everyone reserves places in Mina before the eighth day, do I remain?
Or do we say that since this is a shared matter, meaning I mean reserving places, then it is not permissible? This is regarding prayer. Regarding the lesson, it appears that there is no harm in it, on the condition that none of you believes that he has bought the place and that it is his property to be inherited by those after him. Do you understand the condition? Yes.
Because the reality of the matter, I fear disorder. If it were said that whoever comes sits, otherwise it is better. If it were the case that whoever comes sits, that would be better. But in order for disorder or perhaps dispute not to occur, I see, if Allah wills, that there is no harm in it.