What is the ruling on straightening the rows? What is the ruling of the one who prays alone behind the row after making an effort? And is he obligated to pray next to the imam?

The Shaykh : Please go ahead.

The questioner : Many people join the imam in the first row as latecomers.

The Shaykh: Yes

The questioner : The level of the row is... meaning, approximately below the middle. Of course, when the latecomer places his shoulder on the shoulder of the one in front of him, in many cases here he goes back. And let us suppose he went back. In many cases, they fill a gap in the row, or they cut through the row, even the group. So in many cases, he prays, and then another person comes alone, and no one comes next to him. What is the ruling of the prayer of this one who prayed in a single row alone?

The Shaykh : Of course, the prayer is valid. But before we proceed to explain this validity, we say: Who obligated us to go to the one in front of us and bother him and say to him, "Move back"? This has no basis in the Shari'ah.

The questioner : It has no basis.

The Shaykh : We must leave him in his place, because the hadith that says: This hadith is not authentic. And when we know its weakness and its lack of authority in this matter, then we come to this person who entered the row, and the row in front of him is complete. So we say to him: Make an effort to fill the gap in the row in front of you. And today, unfortunately, this is facilitated because the rows are not straightened according to the Sunnah, with shoulder to shoulder and foot to foot, such that this lone person does not find a place to join the row in front of him. So he must do this. If it is not facilitated for him, and it is in another form, which is rarely possible, he can reach the imam and line up next to him. This is rare and not possible except in some mosques. So at that time, we say: This man has done what he can, and his ability did not lead him to pray alone; it did not lead him except to pray alone. So what do we say to him? Pray in the row, my brother. The row is complete. The row is like the tightly packed ranks. So we said here, this is like his saying (peace be upon him) in some of the hadiths we mentioned as an example in a previous discussion: This is the one who could not pray standing, so he prayed sitting. This is leaving a pillar of the prayer. So is his prayer valid? The answer is yes. Why? Because he could not perform this pillar of standing. And now we say: Joining the row and not praying alone outside the row is a pillar of the prayer. We actually believe this. So if a man prayed alone and the row is in front of him, in the context of joining it, his prayer is invalid. So this and the one who left standing are both the same. This one left standing, so it is supposed that his prayer is invalid. And this one left joining, so it is supposed that his prayer is invalid. But the second is like the first in that the first could not pray standing, so he prayed sitting, and his prayer is valid. And so is the other. Glory be to You, O Allah, and with Your praise. I testify that there is no god but You.

The questioner : ...prays next to the imam. Is he obligated to pray next to the imam?

The Shaykh : Meaning, you say either next to the imam or alone, like this?

The questioner : ... .

The Shaykh : Your question has already been answered, otherwise I would have...

The questioner : Of course, if it is not possible, he prays alone. But I said, is he obligated to pray next to the imam?

The Shaykh : This is what I want to clarify with you, meaning, if he did not pray next to the imam.

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : Either he prays next to the imam or he prays alone. And this is what I am asking you, like this, do you want?

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : So if he was able to pray next to the imam and he prayed alone, is it okay?

The questioner : If it was possible for him?

The Shaykh : If it was possible for him to pray next to the imam.

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : And he prayed alone, is it okay?

The questioner : This is what I...

The Shaykh : Your question means...

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : Of course, everything is upon him, because the issue of his praying next to the imam...

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : This has a basis.

The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh : Do you see how? And even if that basis is in a different topic, but when we come to a topic, we want to look at what is most similar and appropriate to it and give it its ruling. Oh Allah, in the name of Allah, and among you...

The questioner : ...May Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh : And you,