And while we are praying, we have completed the first row, and a person from among the worshippers enters and is alone in the second row, so one of the people in the first row returns to pray
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The questioner : The questioner says: And while we are praying, we have completed the first row, and a person from among the worshippers enters and is alone in the second row, so one of the people in the first row returns to pray next to him. Is this action valid?
The Shaykh : This action is not prescribed. Rather, if a person comes and the row before him is complete, let him stand alone and pray individually due to the excuse, because at that time he is excused, since if he had found a place in the row, he would have entered it. It is not permissible for him to pull someone, and it is not permissible for someone to delay with him either, because if someone delays with him, a gap remains in the row in front of him. A gap remains in the row in front of him, and this is contrary to what is prescribed regarding rows, which is that they should not leave a gap for Shaytan.
And what we have mentioned, which is that it is permissible for a person, if he comes and finds the row complete, to pray alone behind the row, is the stronger opinion, the middle ground between two opinions. One of them says that it is not valid to pray alone behind the row in all cases, and the other says that it is valid to pray in all cases. And this detail we have mentioned, which is that it is permissible in the case of an excuse, is what was chosen by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) and our Shaykh Abd al-Rahman ibn Nasir al-Sa'di (may Allah have mercy on him).
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : This action is not prescribed. Rather, if a person comes and the row before him is complete, let him stand alone and pray individually due to the excuse, because at that time he is excused, since if he had found a place in the row, he would have entered it. It is not permissible for him to pull someone, and it is not permissible for someone to delay with him either, because if someone delays with him, a gap remains in the row in front of him. A gap remains in the row in front of him, and this is contrary to what is prescribed regarding rows, which is that they should not leave a gap for Shaytan.
And what we have mentioned, which is that it is permissible for a person, if he comes and finds the row complete, to pray alone behind the row, is the stronger opinion, the middle ground between two opinions. One of them says that it is not valid to pray alone behind the row in all cases, and the other says that it is valid to pray in all cases. And this detail we have mentioned, which is that it is permissible in the case of an excuse, is what was chosen by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) and our Shaykh Abd al-Rahman ibn Nasir al-Sa'di (may Allah have mercy on him).
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.