The General Prohibition of Stepping Over People’s Necks in the Mosque
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The prohibition against stepping over people’s necks on Friday while the imam is delivering the sermon has been reported. Does this prohibition extend to days other than Friday?
Yes, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was delivering the Friday sermon when he saw a man stepping over people’s necks, so he said: “Sit down, for you have caused harm” He made the cause for the command to sit down the harm caused, and this includes Friday and days other than Friday.And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not say: Sit down, for it is Friday.He said: “Sit down, for you have caused harm” So: whenever harm is caused, a person is prohibited from stepping over people’s necks.But some of the scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) say: One who does not find a gap that he can reach except by stepping over people is permitted to step over them.
Did you understand?For example: If a person finds a gap in the first row where no one is sitting, he is permitted to step over people to reach that gap.And they explained that (may Allah have mercy on them): Because these are the ones who have wronged themselves; for they are commanded to fill the gaps, so if they do not fill them, they are the ones who have wronged themselves. However, in my opinion, there is something about this in reality; because I do not think the man whom the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) saw stepping over people was stepping over them except to reach a gap. I do not think he was stepping over them just to look for a place. So it appears that the prohibition against stepping over is general, whether there is a gap or not.
Yes, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was delivering the Friday sermon when he saw a man stepping over people’s necks, so he said: “Sit down, for you have caused harm” He made the cause for the command to sit down the harm caused, and this includes Friday and days other than Friday.And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not say: Sit down, for it is Friday.He said: “Sit down, for you have caused harm” So: whenever harm is caused, a person is prohibited from stepping over people’s necks.But some of the scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) say: One who does not find a gap that he can reach except by stepping over people is permitted to step over them.
Did you understand?For example: If a person finds a gap in the first row where no one is sitting, he is permitted to step over people to reach that gap.And they explained that (may Allah have mercy on them): Because these are the ones who have wronged themselves; for they are commanded to fill the gaps, so if they do not fill them, they are the ones who have wronged themselves. However, in my opinion, there is something about this in reality; because I do not think the man whom the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) saw stepping over people was stepping over them except to reach a gap. I do not think he was stepping over them just to look for a place. So it appears that the prohibition against stepping over is general, whether there is a gap or not.