What is your ruling on reserving places in the mosque, particularly in the two Sacred Mosques?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you. A questioner asks: What is your ruling on the issue of reserving places in mosques, especially in the two Sacred Mosques, with some detail? May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : Some scholars hold that there is no harm in reserving places, and this is the well-known position among the Hanbalis: that it is permissible for a person to reserve a place, and when he arrives, he prays in it.
Others hold that it is not permissible, because mosques are the houses of Allah, and they belong to whoever arrives first. It is well known that one who places a handkerchief, a pen, or keys is not the one who arrived first, as he did not place them in that location. Consequently, he is unjust to those who come after him, who have a stronger right to that place.
However, the correct view is that there is a distinction in this matter. If a person reserves a place for himself while he is in the mosque, there is no harm. Or if he leaves to attend to a need and returns, such as leaving to perform ablution, or to bring a book he forgot, or to bring something he needs in the mosque, there is no harm in that. This detailed view is the middle path: it is permissible for one to reserve a place while he is in the mosque, but he must observe that if the rows reach his place from the first row, he must move forward to the first row so that he does not step over the necks of people. Yes.
The Shaykh : Some scholars hold that there is no harm in reserving places, and this is the well-known position among the Hanbalis: that it is permissible for a person to reserve a place, and when he arrives, he prays in it.
Others hold that it is not permissible, because mosques are the houses of Allah, and they belong to whoever arrives first. It is well known that one who places a handkerchief, a pen, or keys is not the one who arrived first, as he did not place them in that location. Consequently, he is unjust to those who come after him, who have a stronger right to that place.
However, the correct view is that there is a distinction in this matter. If a person reserves a place for himself while he is in the mosque, there is no harm. Or if he leaves to attend to a need and returns, such as leaving to perform ablution, or to bring a book he forgot, or to bring something he needs in the mosque, there is no harm in that. This detailed view is the middle path: it is permissible for one to reserve a place while he is in the mosque, but he must observe that if the rows reach his place from the first row, he must move forward to the first row so that he does not step over the necks of people. Yes.