Aligning the rows by appointing one of the worshippers is an example of the unlegislated public interests.
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The Shaykh : And the closest example recently is what the mosques of Muslims today are afflicted with, namely drawing lines to align the rows. These lines are undoubtedly among the newly invented matters, but we may look at them from the angle of the unlegislated public interests. However, let us look at which of these three categories, which we detailed earlier, this newly occurring matter can be classified under? It cannot be classified under the rule that if the cause is present while the condition is absent... The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) was always urging his Companions to align the rows and warning them of the consequences of being negligent in that, as you know. The rulers have turned away, and I say directly that the imams of the mosques, most of them, have turned away from this Sunnah and been negligent in aligning the rows, except for the word "align yourselves." And if he turns to the left, may Allah reward him with good, and he repeats it a second time, and the matter about which you seek a ruling is settled.
The attendees: ...
The Shaykh : It is this; this leads to this negligence and laziness in applying the Sunnah of the command to align the rows. Look now at how the matter was in the time of 'Uthman ibn 'Affan: a man was appointed to order them to align the rows. Why? Because the mosque became crowded with worshippers, and the imam, no matter how careful he was in applying the Sunnah, could not manage to align all these rows. So he delegated a person to him. When this person informed him that the rows were aligned, he would say, "Allahu Akbar." This is from the unlegislated public interests. As for drawing the rows, it is among the harms that exist in this time, in reality, because it leads people to turn away from the Sunnah and rely on the innovation under the name of what? This is an unlegislated public interest. And among the consequences of this unlegislated public interest is that when the Festival of Breaking the Fast and the Festival of Sacrifice come, the Sunnah is to go out to the prayer ground. Some of them... do not master aligning the rows in the prayer grounds... and so you will find the rows crooked, some rising, some ascending, because they have not practiced every day in the five prayers. I do not think that in military systems the soldiers practice aligning the rows five times a day. This system does not exist except in Islam. But what is the benefit of this system in Islam if Muslims do not adopt it except in mind and thought, not in action? What is the benefit of this system if the saying of the Lord of Mankind is true of us:[Al-Baqarah 2:61] This is the replacement. Therefore, it is obligatory upon us always and forever, as we said in the lecture, to know the Sunnah by knowledge and to apply it by action. And there will be happiness in this world and for the Hereafter. We ask Allah (Mighty and Majestic) to make us among these happy ones.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
Align your rows, or Allah will cause discord between your faces.
لتسون صفوفكم أو لايخلفن الله بين وجهكمThe attendees: ...
The Shaykh : It is this; this leads to this negligence and laziness in applying the Sunnah of the command to align the rows. Look now at how the matter was in the time of 'Uthman ibn 'Affan: a man was appointed to order them to align the rows. Why? Because the mosque became crowded with worshippers, and the imam, no matter how careful he was in applying the Sunnah, could not manage to align all these rows. So he delegated a person to him. When this person informed him that the rows were aligned, he would say, "Allahu Akbar." This is from the unlegislated public interests. As for drawing the rows, it is among the harms that exist in this time, in reality, because it leads people to turn away from the Sunnah and rely on the innovation under the name of what? This is an unlegislated public interest. And among the consequences of this unlegislated public interest is that when the Festival of Breaking the Fast and the Festival of Sacrifice come, the Sunnah is to go out to the prayer ground. Some of them... do not master aligning the rows in the prayer grounds... and so you will find the rows crooked, some rising, some ascending, because they have not practiced every day in the five prayers. I do not think that in military systems the soldiers practice aligning the rows five times a day. This system does not exist except in Islam. But what is the benefit of this system in Islam if Muslims do not adopt it except in mind and thought, not in action? What is the benefit of this system if the saying of the Lord of Mankind is true of us:
Would you exchange what is better for what is less?
أتستبدلون الذي هو أدنى بالذي هو خيرThe questioner : May Allah reward you with good.