Is it permissible for a man to pray behind the rows alone if he does not find a gap and does not find anyone to stand with, knowing that some of the noble scholars have issued a ruling that if he is unable to do so, he should pray beside the imam?

The questioner : Is it permissible for a man to pray behind the rows alone if he does not find a gap in the row, or should he wait for someone to enter the mosque so he can pray beside them, knowing that it has reached me that one of my friends asked one of the distinguished scholars in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and he holds the view that he should either wait for someone to enter and pray with him, or go and pray to the right of the imam?

The Shaykh : Yes, regarding the question, we must envision the place where this person entering joins the row, and he has the option to form a row with the imam. If it is possible, it is obligatory, because in fact, the prayer of a follower behind the row alone is invalid; his prayer is invalid. More than one hadith has come regarding this: And he said to the man, "Repeat your prayer." Therefore, it is obligatory for this person who entered the mosque ... .