If a man enters the mosque and finds a row broken, should he join it or start a new row?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The Shaykh : Okay, what were you asking?
Al-Halabi : Our Shaykh, I want to ask a question that occurs frequently, and sometimes a person is puzzled by it despite its simplicity and ease; it is the issue of the ruling on broken rows. If a person arrives at the mosque and finds a row that is broken and not complete, meaning there is space, and then he arrives, does he pray in the broken row, or does he not count it as a row and pray alone in a row to start a new one?
The Shaykh : I say that this differs depending on whether there is a gap in the broken row. There is a gap, meaning between the two pillars, half is filled and the other half is empty. This differs from the case where the space between the two pillars is filled, and then he would line up on the side of one of the pillars, either to the right or the left. In this second case, he certainly does not line up [with them], but rather forms a row by himself. As for the first case, one looks at whether it is more likely that this row with the gap will not be completed, for example, if the time is Fajr and the guests and customers are limited, so it is more likely in his opinion that this gap will not be filled by the worshippers who come after. In this case, he completes [the row] or lines up with them; because we look at the prohibition of lining up between the pillars, and its meaning is understood, and the understanding of the meaning is what results in the breaking of the row. Here, in this case, the breaking of the row is not going to happen, unlike the first case.
Al-Halabi : Shaykh, in the first case, if he wants to line up, meaning if he wants to arrange a place for himself between the pillars, and at the same time...
The Shaykh : I did not say he arranges a place for himself. No, I said there is a gap such that it is more likely in his opinion that this gap will not be filled by what may come after.
Al-Halabi : This is the second case.
The Shaykh : No, it is the second case, but in the first case, he wants to line up alone. When does he start completing from here and here?
Al-Halabi : Yes, it is finished. So, meaning, if the row is completed after the pillar, even if there is a gap between the pillars, he does not line up [with them].
The Shaykh : Yes, even if there is a gap.
Al-Halabi : Meaning, this issue—subhan Allah—is indicated by Imam al-Bayhaqi in al-Sunan al-Kubra regarding the one who lines up between the pillars, but I have not seen the jurists address it and so on.
The Shaykh : No, lining up [with a broken row] is not permissible except in this case. Yes.
Al-Halabi: May Allah reward you with good, our Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Welcome.
Al-Halabi : Our Shaykh, I want to ask a question that occurs frequently, and sometimes a person is puzzled by it despite its simplicity and ease; it is the issue of the ruling on broken rows. If a person arrives at the mosque and finds a row that is broken and not complete, meaning there is space, and then he arrives, does he pray in the broken row, or does he not count it as a row and pray alone in a row to start a new one?
The Shaykh : I say that this differs depending on whether there is a gap in the broken row. There is a gap, meaning between the two pillars, half is filled and the other half is empty. This differs from the case where the space between the two pillars is filled, and then he would line up on the side of one of the pillars, either to the right or the left. In this second case, he certainly does not line up [with them], but rather forms a row by himself. As for the first case, one looks at whether it is more likely that this row with the gap will not be completed, for example, if the time is Fajr and the guests and customers are limited, so it is more likely in his opinion that this gap will not be filled by the worshippers who come after. In this case, he completes [the row] or lines up with them; because we look at the prohibition of lining up between the pillars, and its meaning is understood, and the understanding of the meaning is what results in the breaking of the row. Here, in this case, the breaking of the row is not going to happen, unlike the first case.
Al-Halabi : Shaykh, in the first case, if he wants to line up, meaning if he wants to arrange a place for himself between the pillars, and at the same time...
The Shaykh : I did not say he arranges a place for himself. No, I said there is a gap such that it is more likely in his opinion that this gap will not be filled by what may come after.
Al-Halabi : This is the second case.
The Shaykh : No, it is the second case, but in the first case, he wants to line up alone. When does he start completing from here and here?
Al-Halabi : Yes, it is finished. So, meaning, if the row is completed after the pillar, even if there is a gap between the pillars, he does not line up [with them].
The Shaykh : Yes, even if there is a gap.
Al-Halabi : Meaning, this issue—subhan Allah—is indicated by Imam al-Bayhaqi in al-Sunan al-Kubra regarding the one who lines up between the pillars, but I have not seen the jurists address it and so on.
The Shaykh : No, lining up [with a broken row] is not permissible except in this case. Yes.
Al-Halabi: May Allah reward you with good, our Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Welcome.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.