Is it better to pray the pre-prayer voluntary prayer at home and then go to the mosque while the first row is already full?
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The questioner : His saying (peace and blessings be upon him): And between the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): So, is it better for him to pray the voluntary prayer at home, the pre-prayer voluntary prayer, and then go to the mosque while he finds the first row already full, or to go to the mosque early and secure the virtue of the first row?
The Shaykh : Allah knows best, because here there is a comparison between two virtues, and we do not find a text that prefers one virtue over the other, so we say: Allah knows best. If a person can combine both virtues, for example, he prays the sunnah at the beginning of the time and then heads to the mosque and secures a place in the first row, that is the way out. But if one virtue conflicts with another, Allah knows best which of the two is better.
The questioner : And if he does this and that sometimes, for example, he prays the voluntary prayer at home sometimes and catches up to the second row?
The Shaykh : He does this or that against his will.
The questioner : He prays the pre-prayer voluntary prayer in the mosque and the post-prayer voluntary prayer at home.
Another questioner : I say, O Shaykh, we have arranged it so that everyone asks a question in turn.
The Shaykh : May Allah reward you with good, that is justice.
If the people knew what is in the call to prayer and the first row, and they could not get them except by drawing lots, they would draw lots.
لو يعلمُ الناس ما في النداء والصف الأول ولم يجدوا إلا أن يستهموا عليه لاستهمواThe best prayer of a man is in his home, except for the obligatory prayers.
أفضل صلاة الرجل في بيته إلا المكتوبةThe Shaykh : Allah knows best, because here there is a comparison between two virtues, and we do not find a text that prefers one virtue over the other, so we say: Allah knows best. If a person can combine both virtues, for example, he prays the sunnah at the beginning of the time and then heads to the mosque and secures a place in the first row, that is the way out. But if one virtue conflicts with another, Allah knows best which of the two is better.
The questioner : And if he does this and that sometimes, for example, he prays the voluntary prayer at home sometimes and catches up to the second row?
The Shaykh : He does this or that against his will.
The questioner : He prays the pre-prayer voluntary prayer in the mosque and the post-prayer voluntary prayer at home.
Another questioner : I say, O Shaykh, we have arranged it so that everyone asks a question in turn.
The Shaykh : May Allah reward you with good, that is justice.