The Ruling on Reserving a Place in the First Row

Question:
What is the ruling on reserving a place for prayer, specifically in the first row behind the imam?

Answer:
If a person reserves a place while he is sitting in the mosque, there is nothing wrong with that. For example, he reserves his place in the first row and goes to the back of the mosque for a purpose, such as to recite the Qur'an, attend a dhikr session, or something similar, or to seek knowledge, if he is in the mosque, there is nothing wrong with it. However, if he reserves the place and goes outside the mosque to attend to his work, buying and selling, or goes to sleep in his house, or to eat and drink in his house, this is not permissible, because he deprives others of the place while he is not using it. This is what is not permissible. As for a person who is in the mosque and needs a place other than his reserved one, a place better for him in terms of coolness, space, or otherwise, and he is in the mosque, there is nothing wrong with it. Yes. Or if he wants to perform wudu, that does not contradict the ruling; wanting to perform wudu does not contradict it, as this is one of the needs. Yes.