We entered the mosque and I ordered the mu'adhdhin to give the iqamah. There was a man among the people praying a nafilah in the first row, so I straightened the rows and began the takbir of

The questioner : May Allah reward you. A few days ago, a picture came to me, and I hope you will guide me to the correct view in it. May Allah reward you. We entered the mosque and I ordered my brother the mu'adhdhin to give the iqamah. There was a man among the people praying a nafilah in the first row, so I straightened the rows and began the takbir of ihram after I had ordered the worshippers to fill the gaps. This worshipper was slightly ahead of the first row, so he ended up in front of the first row. I began reciting. The man came wanting to leave, as if he could not find a way out, and he thought it was not permissible. He came to my side and tapped me on the shoulder like this, slightly, so that I would follow him. I gestured with my hand for him to go out to the other rows, and the man left. After we finished the prayer, he said, "You caused me difficulty. How am I supposed to pass between the rows? The brothers are packed tightly, and I came to follow you, and you refused. What is this?" I explained that it is obligatory for you to pass through the rows and that there is no blame on you. So, Shaykh, in this issue, are there specific errors in the picture I described? Are there specific errors?

The Shaykh : What occurred to me when I began telling this story is that it should have been that the man should have been alert. Since, as you said—and the responsibility lies with the narrator—he was praying a nafilah.

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : So it was up to you to order him to cut off his prayer and join the row before you began the prayer, and this problem would have been removed from its root and branch!

The questioner : I do this sometimes, O Shaykh.

The Shaykh : But no harm, we are talking about this now. It should have been done this way, and this would be a decisive reason to prevent what happened from occurring. But since it was as you feared—may we return to Allah—we say that what you did is the only way we find, and this man has no right to object to you or take offense at you, as long as you gave him a clear signal to break through the row and take his place in a convenient spot, either in the last row or by finding a gap. And I believe that today, unfortunately, the rows do not have that tightness where one cannot find not only a way to pass through, but may even find a way to stand in a place where there is space. So if we assume that these rows are all tightly packed as the wise Lawgiver commanded, then one must break through the rows and reach the last row. And here is a note for those standing in the row: when they find a person like this, they should remember the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding straightening the rows, and I add to that what may obstruct these rows, meaning his saying (peace and blessings be upon him) So I am standing, for example, with my leg close to the leg of the man to my right and the man to my left, and my row is complete with them like a solid structure. So when I find this, I move aside and join in to make room for him to reach the place appropriate for him. This is what I have.

The questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh. Also, O Shaykh, a matter related to...
Al-Halabi : The same story, O Shaykh. As a solution, if he was satisfied with being on the imam's right, is there a contradiction with the Sunnah, O Shaykh?

The Shaykh : This is contrary to the original ruling, and this was mentioned before.
Al-Halabi : I mean that hadith where the man came...

The Shaykh: If you permit.
Al-Halabi: Excuse me.

The Shaykh : This is if he cannot manage to reach the row. This is the solution. But the question is whether he can manage to reach it or not. If he can, the previous answer is the answer. If he cannot, then this statement applies.

The questioner : The question here is that he tried to break through, but they refused and prevented him.

Another questioner : He said to the row, "It is sacred."

The Shaykh : There is no cutting through.

The questioner : Breaking through.

The Shaykh : Cutting through the row...

The questioner : ... I mean, I understand from your words, O Shaykh, that if, for example, there were ten rows, they might use this as an excuse, saying, "I cannot get out." Can we regulate this?

The Shaykh : My brother, if they use it as an excuse, we say that Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity. The whole discussion is for those who are able. And our brother Abu al-Harith, when he asked, was putting the dots on the i's, as they say today. Our previous discussion was for those who are able. The one who is not able stands to the right of the imam.