What is the ruling for one who does not find a space in the row for prayer? How should he exert himself, and is it part of exertion to pass through the rows and pray beside the imam?
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The questioner : Shaykh, may Allah reward you. A man entered the mosque and found the row approximately full. Is he not required to start a new row until he exerts himself? And is it part of exertion if he finds a space and prays to the right of the imam or from the door side of the pulpit, or does he start the row?
The Shaykh : You said at the beginning of the question, approximately. You found the row approximately.
The questioner : Almost full.
The Shaykh : And almost as well.
The questioner : Meaning he cannot stand, but he can pass through.
The Shaykh : The important thing is, is the row complete or not?
The questioner : Complete, but he cannot stand.
The Shaykh : Meaning, do not say "almost complete" or "approximately complete." Say: he found it complete. If he found it complete, then he prays alone and there is no blame on him. There is no need to line up with the imam. In fact, lining up with the imam, we may say, is a religious innovation, because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not have anyone pray with him in his leadership except when he came and found Abu Bakr praying with the people while he was ill (peace and blessings be upon him). Then he came and stood to the left of Abu Bakr and began to lead the people, with Abu Bakr conveying his actions. Otherwise, there is no report of this. Also, the imam must be an imam; an imam means a specific role model in his place. Then, if we say, "Go, break through the row, and stand with the imam," breaking through the row causes harm. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to the man who was breaking through the rows on Friday:.
Then, if we say we bear this and he stands with the imam, and another person comes after he has entered with the imam and finds the row complete, and we say, "Go with the imam," he goes with the imam. How many are there?
Three. Then another comes and finds the row complete! We say, "Go forward and pray with the imam!" Perhaps the entire first row will end up with the imam.
But if he entered the prayer in his place, and then the second, third, and fourth came, and they formed a later row, then what we see is that he prays alone because it is difficult to find a suitable place.
The Shaykh : You said at the beginning of the question, approximately. You found the row approximately.
The questioner : Almost full.
The Shaykh : And almost as well.
The questioner : Meaning he cannot stand, but he can pass through.
The Shaykh : The important thing is, is the row complete or not?
The questioner : Complete, but he cannot stand.
The Shaykh : Meaning, do not say "almost complete" or "approximately complete." Say: he found it complete. If he found it complete, then he prays alone and there is no blame on him. There is no need to line up with the imam. In fact, lining up with the imam, we may say, is a religious innovation, because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not have anyone pray with him in his leadership except when he came and found Abu Bakr praying with the people while he was ill (peace and blessings be upon him). Then he came and stood to the left of Abu Bakr and began to lead the people, with Abu Bakr conveying his actions. Otherwise, there is no report of this. Also, the imam must be an imam; an imam means a specific role model in his place. Then, if we say, "Go, break through the row, and stand with the imam," breaking through the row causes harm. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to the man who was breaking through the rows on Friday:
Sit down, for you have caused harm
اجلس فقد آذيتThen, if we say we bear this and he stands with the imam, and another person comes after he has entered with the imam and finds the row complete, and we say, "Go with the imam," he goes with the imam. How many are there?
Three. Then another comes and finds the row complete! We say, "Go forward and pray with the imam!" Perhaps the entire first row will end up with the imam.
But if he entered the prayer in his place, and then the second, third, and fourth came, and they formed a later row, then what we see is that he prays alone because it is difficult to find a suitable place.