If a person finds a gap in the first row, should he move forward to fill the gap in the row, or not?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh. This questioner says: If a person finds a gap in the first row...
The Shaykh : If
The questioner : If a person finds a gap in the first row, should he move forward while he is praying to fill the gap, especially here in the Sacred Mosque?
The Shaykh : Yes. I heard someone ask: Does the imam recite loudly when he passes a prostration verse in a quiet prayer, so that the followers know? I say: No, he does not recite loudly, because that would necessitate loudness in a quiet prayer, and he is in no need of it. We return to the question mentioned by the brother. He says: If a person is in the second row, for example, praying with the congregation, and a gap opens in the first row, should he move forward to it or leave it? We say: He should move forward to it, because this moving forward is related to the prayer. And there is evidence for this: This is a movement, but it is for the benefit of the prayer. So if he moves forward to fill the gap, that is good. But if, O people, moving forward would not fill the gap—because the gap is large, as is the case in the Sacred Mosque now—so there is a row in front of you, and then two men from that row move forward, and you are how many? One person? If you move forward, will you fill the gap? No. So there is no benefit. The gap is open in the row in front of you, and if you move forward, a gap will open in your row and the gap in front of you will not be filled. So we say: Remain as you are in your row, and do not open a gap. And the gap in front of you will not be filled if you move forward.
But suppose, for example, that a gap opens in the row in front of you for only one man. Do we say: Move forward and fill the gap? Or do we say: Do not move forward, because if you fill the gap, what happens? You open a gap, and you do not know. Perhaps the person behind you will not move forward, and your first row—the one you are in—will remain open. This is a point of hesitation for me, but I lean toward the view that he should move forward, because the front row is better than the one behind it. Read.
The Shaykh : If
The questioner : If a person finds a gap in the first row, should he move forward while he is praying to fill the gap, especially here in the Sacred Mosque?
The Shaykh : Yes. I heard someone ask: Does the imam recite loudly when he passes a prostration verse in a quiet prayer, so that the followers know? I say: No, he does not recite loudly, because that would necessitate loudness in a quiet prayer, and he is in no need of it. We return to the question mentioned by the brother. He says: If a person is in the second row, for example, praying with the congregation, and a gap opens in the first row, should he move forward to it or leave it? We say: He should move forward to it, because this moving forward is related to the prayer. And there is evidence for this:
That the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), when he stood to pray at night, when he stood to pray at night, 'Abdullah ibn 'Abbas stood to pray with him and stood to his left, so the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) moved him from behind him and placed him to his right.
أن النبي صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم لما قام يصلي من الليل لما قام يصلي من الليل قام عبد الله بن عباس يصلي معه فوقف عن يساره فأداره النبي صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم من وراءه وجعله عن يمينهBut suppose, for example, that a gap opens in the row in front of you for only one man. Do we say: Move forward and fill the gap? Or do we say: Do not move forward, because if you fill the gap, what happens? You open a gap, and you do not know. Perhaps the person behind you will not move forward, and your first row—the one you are in—will remain open. This is a point of hesitation for me, but I lean toward the view that he should move forward, because the front row is better than the one behind it. Read.