Is it better to stand on the right side of the row for prayer, or on the left if it is closer?
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The questioner : O Shaykh, regarding when one arrives at the mosque, is it better to be on the left or... at the end of the row?
The Shaykh : I did not understand.
The questioner : I say, when one arrives for prayer, is it better to come to the end of the row from the right, or to the space on the left?
The Shaykh : Yes. First, the word "rawdah" has no basis; it has no basis. I mean, the common people say that the "rawdah" is what is behind the imam, or to his right, or to his left, close to him. This has no basis. It is the first row. The brother’s question asks: Is the right side better absolutely, from any row, or do we say that if it is further back, the left is better than it if it is closer? The answer: The left is better if it is closer to the imam. The evidence for this is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not say "Complete the rightmost, then the rightmost" as he said Therefore, we say regarding the first and second rows: the first is better than the second, even if the second is behind the imam and the first is at the end of the row, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded us to complete the first, then the first. As for the right, he did not say "Complete the rightmost, then the rightmost." If the right were better absolutely, what would he have said? "Complete the rightmost, then the rightmost." Based on this, we say: if the right and left are close, the right is better. If the right and left are equal, the right is better. But with distance, the left is better, due to its nearness to the imam, and nearness to the imam is considered in the Shari'ah. This is also indicated by the fact that the Muslims, in the beginning, when they were three, would form one row, with one of them to the right of the imam and the second to his left. Then this was abrogated so that the imam would stand in front when they were three. This indicates that if the right and left are equal, the right is better; otherwise, the left is better. If the right were better absolutely, how would the three stand?
The student: From the right.
The Shaykh : The two would be to the right of the imam. This is a matter that is hidden from many students of knowledge, let alone the common people. In some mosques, you find the right row is almost full, and the left has one or two people, and this is a mistake. This is if we say that the statement "Place the imam in the middle" is weak. But if we say it is good, then it is decisive, and no two people would dispute it. Do you understand now, or not? The right is better if the right and left are equal or close, like the difference of one or two people. But if the difference is clear, the left is better. Yes.
The Shaykh : I did not understand.
The questioner : I say, when one arrives for prayer, is it better to come to the end of the row from the right, or to the space on the left?
The Shaykh : Yes. First, the word "rawdah" has no basis; it has no basis. I mean, the common people say that the "rawdah" is what is behind the imam, or to his right, or to his left, close to him. This has no basis. It is the first row. The brother’s question asks: Is the right side better absolutely, from any row, or do we say that if it is further back, the left is better than it if it is closer? The answer: The left is better if it is closer to the imam. The evidence for this is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not say "Complete the rightmost, then the rightmost" as he said
Complete the first, then the first
أتموّا الأوّل فالأوّلThe student: From the right.
The Shaykh : The two would be to the right of the imam. This is a matter that is hidden from many students of knowledge, let alone the common people. In some mosques, you find the right row is almost full, and the left has one or two people, and this is a mistake. This is if we say that the statement "Place the imam in the middle" is weak. But if we say it is good, then it is decisive, and no two people would dispute it. Do you understand now, or not? The right is better if the right and left are equal or close, like the difference of one or two people. But if the difference is clear, the left is better. Yes.