The Sunnah regarding the imam's position relative to the congregation
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His Eminence the Shaykh: Is it a condition for the imam in the mosque to be in the center of the mosque?
The Sunnah is for the imam to be in the center, not on the right or on the left.And the evidence for this is: In the beginning, when three people prayed, they formed a single row with their imam in the middle of them, not placing them all on the right, but rather one on the right and one on the left. This indicates the prescription of the imam being in the center. A hadith was reported to this effect, "Center the imam" , but it is weak. However, it is well known from the practice of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he would position himself in the center of the people in his prayer.For this reason, some of the scholars of knowledge said a sound statement: If one side of the row becomes longer and farther from the imam, it is better for a person to be on the other side.For example: If the people line up on the right side of the row and there are many of them, we say: No, it is better for you to come to the left.First: Because it is closer to the imam.And the second: Because it is closer to the center of the imam.
The questioner himself: Does the imam ask them to do that?The Shaykh: Yes.
If he sees that they are deviating, he asks them to do so.
The Sunnah is for the imam to be in the center, not on the right or on the left.And the evidence for this is: In the beginning, when three people prayed, they formed a single row with their imam in the middle of them, not placing them all on the right, but rather one on the right and one on the left. This indicates the prescription of the imam being in the center. A hadith was reported to this effect, "Center the imam" , but it is weak. However, it is well known from the practice of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he would position himself in the center of the people in his prayer.For this reason, some of the scholars of knowledge said a sound statement: If one side of the row becomes longer and farther from the imam, it is better for a person to be on the other side.For example: If the people line up on the right side of the row and there are many of them, we say: No, it is better for you to come to the left.First: Because it is closer to the imam.And the second: Because it is closer to the center of the imam.
The questioner himself: Does the imam ask them to do that?The Shaykh: Yes.
If he sees that they are deviating, he asks them to do so.