The ruling on moving to the side or forward in prayer to allow someone to pass
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner:
The Shaykh’s issue is that sometimes I move to the right or left in prayer to allow a person to pass through the prayer so that no one passes in front of me. What is your opinion on this matter? And what is the extent of the arm?
The Shaykh:
It becomes that he moves forward and leaves a space for someone to pass through.
Another questioner:
Yes.
The Shaykh:
Hmm?
The questioner:
Yes.
Another questioner:
Okay.
The Shaykh:
There is no disrespect in the question.
Another questioner:
It is late. If it is in a late sport and he went out of the factory.
The Shaykh:
It is easy, the matter is easy, meaning if he leaves a gap for him to pass through, this is not considered a movement that affects the prayer, because it is for a need. If he moves forward, there is no harm, meaning between one row and another row, no harm. A few steps. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to ascend the pulpit while in prayer, and descend from the pulpit while in prayer, and open the door when someone asked permission to enter while he was in prayer. The few steps for a need are permissible. Yes.
The Shaykh’s issue is that sometimes I move to the right or left in prayer to allow a person to pass through the prayer so that no one passes in front of me. What is your opinion on this matter? And what is the extent of the arm?
The Shaykh:
It becomes that he moves forward and leaves a space for someone to pass through.
Another questioner:
Yes.
The Shaykh:
Hmm?
The questioner:
Yes.
Another questioner:
Okay.
The Shaykh:
There is no disrespect in the question.
Another questioner:
It is late. If it is in a late sport and he went out of the factory.
The Shaykh:
It is easy, the matter is easy, meaning if he leaves a gap for him to pass through, this is not considered a movement that affects the prayer, because it is for a need. If he moves forward, there is no harm, meaning between one row and another row, no harm. A few steps. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to ascend the pulpit while in prayer, and descend from the pulpit while in prayer, and open the door when someone asked permission to enter while he was in prayer. The few steps for a need are permissible. Yes.
Source
شرح بلوغ المرام من أدلة الأحكام [ صالح الفوزان ]، باب سترة المصلي — islamhouse.com (1:04:08)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.