Is it preferable to maintain the imam's central position in the row behind him in congregational prayer, or to stand on his right side while compromising on the central position behind him?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : So, let's stick to the connection, my Shaykh, between the right side and the central position.
The Shaykh : The connection?!
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : What do you mean by the connection?
The questioner : We said that the preference, based on the hadith, is that if the follower is alone, he prays on the imam's right. So, from this and from the general texts regarding the preference for the right side, the right is better. So, when a person comes to line up, does he always take the right side and leave the left?
The Shaykh : No, the central position must be maintained, one, two, one, two.
The questioner: All right.
The Shaykh : And so on.
The questioner : Everyone says, "I want the best."
The Shaykh : That is not said. That is only said if the central position of the imam were not prescribed.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : So, let's say these two are here.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : And the whole middle has gone to the wall.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : And here the row is empty.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Is this central?
The questioner : No, it is not central.
The Shaykh : So, this question is not applicable.
The questioner : So, excuse me, my Shaykh, is applying the central position preferable to taking the right side?
The Shaykh : It is not preferable, my brother. The central position begins as we said.
The questioner : Two behind the imam.
The Shaykh : So, does one stand on the right or the left? He stands on the right.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : So, does the second one stand on the right or the left?
The questioner : Well, he says, "I want to stand on the right."
The Shaykh : My brother, we are done with that. The row will end up being for the last person there.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : And it is empty there!!
The questioner : This is what they say, my Shaykh. Everyone who lines up says, "What is the obstacle? We all hope to gain the preference of the right side!"
The Shaykh : My brother, we answered you. May Allah guide you. You have invalidated the central position.
The questioner : So, this is it, then.
The Shaykh : How is this it?!
The questioner : So, the central position, do we go back and say the central position is preferable?
The Shaykh : It is not said to be preferable. One should combine them, as we mentioned, one, two, one, two, and so on.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : But if we all take the right side, we have invalidated the central position.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : If we maintain the central position, we combine both matters.
The questioner : So, my Shaykh, if you would be kind to me, the last thing is that the one who comes to the prayer decides the connection between the two matters. He sees, and by Allah, the row is central, so he takes the right. No, by Allah, he sees that the right is more protective of the central position, so he takes the left.
The Shaykh: Perfect.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : The connection?!
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : What do you mean by the connection?
The questioner : We said that the preference, based on the hadith, is that if the follower is alone, he prays on the imam's right. So, from this and from the general texts regarding the preference for the right side, the right is better. So, when a person comes to line up, does he always take the right side and leave the left?
The Shaykh : No, the central position must be maintained, one, two, one, two.
The questioner: All right.
The Shaykh : And so on.
The questioner : Everyone says, "I want the best."
The Shaykh : That is not said. That is only said if the central position of the imam were not prescribed.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : So, let's say these two are here.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : And the whole middle has gone to the wall.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : And here the row is empty.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Is this central?
The questioner : No, it is not central.
The Shaykh : So, this question is not applicable.
The questioner : So, excuse me, my Shaykh, is applying the central position preferable to taking the right side?
The Shaykh : It is not preferable, my brother. The central position begins as we said.
The questioner : Two behind the imam.
The Shaykh : So, does one stand on the right or the left? He stands on the right.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : So, does the second one stand on the right or the left?
The questioner : Well, he says, "I want to stand on the right."
The Shaykh : My brother, we are done with that. The row will end up being for the last person there.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : And it is empty there!!
The questioner : This is what they say, my Shaykh. Everyone who lines up says, "What is the obstacle? We all hope to gain the preference of the right side!"
The Shaykh : My brother, we answered you. May Allah guide you. You have invalidated the central position.
The questioner : So, this is it, then.
The Shaykh : How is this it?!
The questioner : So, the central position, do we go back and say the central position is preferable?
The Shaykh : It is not said to be preferable. One should combine them, as we mentioned, one, two, one, two, and so on.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : But if we all take the right side, we have invalidated the central position.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : If we maintain the central position, we combine both matters.
The questioner : So, my Shaykh, if you would be kind to me, the last thing is that the one who comes to the prayer decides the connection between the two matters. He sees, and by Allah, the row is central, so he takes the right. No, by Allah, he sees that the right is more protective of the central position, so he takes the left.
The Shaykh: Perfect.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.