The ruling on the imam directing the followers who are crowded on the right or left of the row
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When the followers line up for prayer, is the side on the left given precedence over the right, or vice versa? Is it prescribed for the imam to direct them to balance the two sides?
He asks, saying: If the row is longer on the imam's right than on his left, or vice versa,Is it prescribed for the imam to say to the extra person: come to this deficient side?I say: Yes.
Because it is prescribed that the imam be in the middle,And the evidence for this is: It is established in Sahih Muslim and others that when there were three people at first, the imam would be in the middle of them, then this was abrogated and the imam came to be in front of the three.
And the indication of the evidence: That they should not be on his right—Meaning: two on his right and none on his left—rather, he should be between them.
Also: He is the imam, and he is commanded to be just, and it is not justice for one side to be far away and the other close.
Also: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not say: Complete the right side, then the right side,And if the right side were absolutely more numerous, he would say: Complete the right side, then the right side, as he said regarding the first row: Complete the first row, then the first row.
Also: Consider the appearance of the people, for example: suppose that one person is behind the imam and all the rest are on the right, with no one on the left. This appearance contradicts the idea of there being a true imam; because he is at the extreme.
This is the issue.
He asks, saying: If the row is longer on the imam's right than on his left, or vice versa,Is it prescribed for the imam to say to the extra person: come to this deficient side?I say: Yes.
Because it is prescribed that the imam be in the middle,And the evidence for this is: It is established in Sahih Muslim and others that when there were three people at first, the imam would be in the middle of them, then this was abrogated and the imam came to be in front of the three.
And the indication of the evidence: That they should not be on his right—Meaning: two on his right and none on his left—rather, he should be between them.
Also: He is the imam, and he is commanded to be just, and it is not justice for one side to be far away and the other close.
Also: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not say: Complete the right side, then the right side,And if the right side were absolutely more numerous, he would say: Complete the right side, then the right side, as he said regarding the first row: Complete the first row, then the first row.
Also: Consider the appearance of the people, for example: suppose that one person is behind the imam and all the rest are on the right, with no one on the left. This appearance contradicts the idea of there being a true imam; because he is at the extreme.
This is the issue.