What is the ruling on one who joins the congregation late, and when the imam finishes, he remains without a sutrah? How should he act?
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The questioner : As for a person who entered the prayer while someone was in front of him, and this person finished the prayer before him and stood up, what should he do?
The Shaykh : He should do so if there is another sutrah in front of him that is close to him; he should move forward to it in such a way that he does not perform excessive actions that would invalidate his prayer. Otherwise, he should remain in his place, and he is considered to be covered by a sutrah. Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity.
The questioner : The evidence for moving forward and taking a sutrah in front of him: if there is a wall, for example, three or four steps away from him, what is the evidence for moving forward... to the wall?
The Shaykh : I say, may Allah reward you with good, that you said four steps, not twenty-seven. So what is your opinion if it is one step or two steps?
The questioner : ... the evidence.
The Shaykh : No problem.
The questioner : I want the evidence for walking.
The Shaykh : I understood your question, but you still need to understand my question: if there is a wall or the next sutrah between you and... because I do not assume it is certain, as there might be a person in front of you, as you said, but next to him is a second person, so the matter does not require more than half a step or less, right? Or not? Can we imagine a second scenario where the person who was the sutrah in front of him is a man sitting, so even to take the sutrah, you have to walk one step, at most. Do you think you should take this step or not?
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Do you not have knowledge?
The questioner : No.
The Shaykh : Why did you strike it as a high matter and tell me four steps, when you are only one step away... are you satisfied?
The questioner : I mean, what is the evidence for it?
The Shaykh : Do you think I still do not understand your intention?
The questioner : No, I want to complete it.
The Shaykh : And you have not completed it yet? This is a problem. Well, please go ahead.
The questioner : A little while ago, we were talking about Abu Munir's question regarding the situation after standing up. If it happened, for example, like this thing, if it happened, for example!
The Shaykh : These are incidental matters, Professor. Why did we separate the speech for you between a prominent and recurring matter? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prays in front of people every day; incidental matters are not measured by it. Incidental matters are not measured by it. These occur and occur due to sudden circumstances, not a continuous Sunnah performed by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) or the Companions. Perhaps you understood me well: the general text, the original rule, is to act according to its generality, unless a text comes that restricts it, or something that takes the place of the text. I think you understood this matter? You personally, right now, do not move... if the sutrah is removed from in front of you, you do not go to the right or to the left.
The questioner : To the right and left is possible, but to the front...
The Shaykh : Well, did this happen?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : What? Yes? Yes means it happened, right?
The questioner : It happened, yes.
The Shaykh : Where?
The questioner : It happened for me.
The Shaykh : I will also answer you with the same answer regarding your previous question. It happened to me. I ask: did this happen in the prayer?
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : ... do
The questioner : I do...
The Shaykh : I am saying now, after...
The Shaykh : He should do so if there is another sutrah in front of him that is close to him; he should move forward to it in such a way that he does not perform excessive actions that would invalidate his prayer. Otherwise, he should remain in his place, and he is considered to be covered by a sutrah. Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity.
The questioner : The evidence for moving forward and taking a sutrah in front of him: if there is a wall, for example, three or four steps away from him, what is the evidence for moving forward... to the wall?
The Shaykh : I say, may Allah reward you with good, that you said four steps, not twenty-seven. So what is your opinion if it is one step or two steps?
The questioner : ... the evidence.
The Shaykh : No problem.
The questioner : I want the evidence for walking.
The Shaykh : I understood your question, but you still need to understand my question: if there is a wall or the next sutrah between you and... because I do not assume it is certain, as there might be a person in front of you, as you said, but next to him is a second person, so the matter does not require more than half a step or less, right? Or not? Can we imagine a second scenario where the person who was the sutrah in front of him is a man sitting, so even to take the sutrah, you have to walk one step, at most. Do you think you should take this step or not?
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Do you not have knowledge?
The questioner : No.
The Shaykh : Why did you strike it as a high matter and tell me four steps, when you are only one step away... are you satisfied?
The questioner : I mean, what is the evidence for it?
The Shaykh : Do you think I still do not understand your intention?
The questioner : No, I want to complete it.
The Shaykh : And you have not completed it yet? This is a problem. Well, please go ahead.
The questioner : A little while ago, we were talking about Abu Munir's question regarding the situation after standing up. If it happened, for example, like this thing, if it happened, for example!
The Shaykh : These are incidental matters, Professor. Why did we separate the speech for you between a prominent and recurring matter? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prays in front of people every day; incidental matters are not measured by it. Incidental matters are not measured by it. These occur and occur due to sudden circumstances, not a continuous Sunnah performed by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) or the Companions. Perhaps you understood me well: the general text, the original rule, is to act according to its generality, unless a text comes that restricts it, or something that takes the place of the text. I think you understood this matter? You personally, right now, do not move... if the sutrah is removed from in front of you, you do not go to the right or to the left.
The questioner : To the right and left is possible, but to the front...
The Shaykh : Well, did this happen?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : What? Yes? Yes means it happened, right?
The questioner : It happened, yes.
The Shaykh : Where?
The questioner : It happened for me.
The Shaykh : I will also answer you with the same answer regarding your previous question. It happened to me. I ask: did this happen in the prayer?
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : ... do
The questioner : I do...
The Shaykh : I am saying now, after...