What is the ruling on straightening the rows and taking care of them in the mosque?

The questioner : I also brought up, from what we benefited from on this same topic, Shaykh, that they say to me, "Come, make a line for us in the mosque." I said, "I do not make lines in the mosque." He said, "My brother, what is the problem with that?" I said, "This is a bid'ah (religious innovation)." He said, "What is the bid'ah in it? You did not state that this is a bid'ah, and how is it a bid'ah? Was the marker present in the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) or not?"

The Shaykh : The report.

The questioner : I said, "This is not our way of speaking. May Allah reward you with good, Shaykh. Because the naming of the rows was established in the time of Muhsin, and there was a need for them to make a line, or put a ruler in the dirt, or something simple like that."

The Shaykh : Especially, and there is a hadith about the error. Yes.

The questioner : The woman: Welcome.

The Shaykh : If we drew a line for him.

The questioner : Yes, indeed. Glory to Allah the Great. I am surprised by the speech that came from the gentleman. We, because we served in the army, when we see this matter of the Muslims' concern, the concern of the people. The army lines up outside in a queue a hundred meters long. A hundred people or so. I lead them outside to the right, shoulder to shoulder. You find them even within seconds. And we punish, of course, if they do not line up in the two rows. We go out like this, and you find that it is really like a ruler. But in the mosque, there is no concern for straightening the row. So you find that he wants to do it by force, like this, when you pull him next to you and tell him to move. It is as if he just accepts the scene. And the matter is very easy, it does not require much.

The Shaykh : The matter comes down to training, like the example you give about the army. The worshippers must be more organized than the soldiers, but unfortunately, the soldiers have a commander who leads them and cares for their training, and so on. As for the worshippers, they do not have imams in the true sense of the word.

The questioner : In addition, my lord, the Shaykh, because they do not have any care at all for straightening the rows, there is not that sufficient care.

The Shaykh : Yes, but when does the concern happen? When the imam performs the duty of reminding and enjoining good. I repeat this warning and this reminder; it must be engraved in the hearts of those who are eager to respond to the reminder. But unfortunately, he who lacks a thing cannot give it. If it were in the greatest, most sacred, most holy mosque in the world, the Mosque of Makkah, then the Mosque of Madinah, you would find the imam content with saying "Straighten up, straighten up," and the matter is done. So what can be said about the rest of the mosques? Whereas in the time of some of the Rightly Guided Caliphs, and especially in the time of 'Uthman, because the people had increased in the Prophet's Mosque, he appointed people to straighten the rows, from row to row to row. So when the rows were straightened, he said "Say Allahu Akbar" or something like that. Meaning, the imam does not say Allahu Akbar until the one appointed to straighten the rows informs him that they are straight. Allahu Akbar, where? Where are the Muslims and where is the Sunnah?

The questioner : I, Shaykh, do not leave them differing in the rows while the imam says Allahu Akbar and enters the prayer. No, today, look at what my Shaykh, Abu Ghazal, who is with us in al-Nur Mosque, said. He spoke one day when they had planted olive saplings in the mosque and the boys pulled them out. He said, "My brother, raise your children and teach them to take care of the planting and the saplings."

The Shaykh : And upon you be peace and the mercy of Allah.

The questioner : And to take care of the saplings planted in the mosque and not destroy them. They come and play in the mosque, saying, "The prayer is long" or "The prayer is short," or "Shaykh, straighten the rows," making them not straighten them.

The Shaykh : Allahu Akbar.

The questioner : He makes them not straighten the row. This was the day before yesterday, I was annoyed by it. This one between the two pillars did not remove it. He removed it between the two pillars. Yes. He brought the ropes. Meaning, after Maghrib. He brought them forward. The first row, the day before yesterday, he told him, "Let's put our feet down." Oh. In a moment, some people spoke. He was bringing people out on them. Before you, by Allah, Palestine is not standing for you. As long as the Sunnah in the mosque is not being equalized. Allahu Akbar. Come on. That he is the imam of this. He is this, meaning you speak about him.

The Shaykh : Say it, I.

The questioner : Ministry. The one who was in the army, this. This is before the first. In the name of Allah. By Allah, Palestine, I have reviewed you, as long as the Sunnah. It is with us, you are applying it. Allahu Akbar. Allahu Akbar.

The Shaykh : Strength for us from him. Bring the hundred, father. This cup. This. That is enough, just that is enough. Say it, you. The people of Makkah or the people respect the Sunnah, they are buried in Islam in the grave. That is enough, that is enough.

The questioner : Look, they will not fill the eye, look, they will not fill the eye, but the ways...

The Shaykh : Yes.

The questioner : Because. It is not a matter of formalities, oh. This is better, buried in the market. No, seriously. It is not a matter of formalities. Yes, no, it is not. Peace and the mercy and blessings of Allah. Ah, about.

The Shaykh : Do you have something?

The questioner : No, as long as you, may Allah reward you with good, I understood the father on this matter, but...

The Shaykh : Yes, may Allah reward you with good, if Allah wills, he responded.

The questioner : Praise be to Allah.

The Shaykh : So we say, may Allah reward him with good as well.

The questioner : Allah.

The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah.

The questioner : Even though he is new to the matter, meaning today he went and came in.

The Shaykh : What Allah willed.

The questioner : We clarify.

The Shaykh : May Allah reward him with good. There is no god but Allah. We take the opinion of Abu 'Abdullah, let us see. Peace be upon you, how long do we need to prepare for the mosque at Abu Malik's? Allow us to go, because the Friday prayer requires preparation for it, if Allah wills. May Allah reward you with good.