Are lines on the ground prescribed to straighten the rows?
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The questioner : Shaykh, may Allah bless you, what is narrated from 'Umar, or what is established from 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), when he sent men to straighten the rows, could this be evidence for the prescription of lines on the ground?
The Shaykh : No, so that we may be saved from religious innovation. As for the prescription, one might not dare to cite this report as evidence for its prescription. However, we cite the general, well-known principles that the means have the rulings of their ends. When we place this line, we are not worshipping Allah the Exalted by placing it, but we are worshipping Allah the Exalted by straightening the rows, and this is one of its means and causes. Otherwise, some of the brothers say that this is a religious innovation and that it is not permissible for the mosques to have these carpets, as if if it were up to him, he would remove them. He says, "Because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) did not place lines." So we say to him, "What makes you know that he did not place lines?" Yes, there is only a negation. What makes you know? And even if we assume, for the sake of argument, and this is the reality, that they did not place lines, the ground of the mosque in the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was covered with gravel, so lines could not be made in it. Even if a person drew a line a hundred times, the first time feet stepped on it, it would disappear. Yes.
The Shaykh : No, so that we may be saved from religious innovation. As for the prescription, one might not dare to cite this report as evidence for its prescription. However, we cite the general, well-known principles that the means have the rulings of their ends. When we place this line, we are not worshipping Allah the Exalted by placing it, but we are worshipping Allah the Exalted by straightening the rows, and this is one of its means and causes. Otherwise, some of the brothers say that this is a religious innovation and that it is not permissible for the mosques to have these carpets, as if if it were up to him, he would remove them. He says, "Because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) did not place lines." So we say to him, "What makes you know that he did not place lines?" Yes, there is only a negation. What makes you know? And even if we assume, for the sake of argument, and this is the reality, that they did not place lines, the ground of the mosque in the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was covered with gravel, so lines could not be made in it. Even if a person drew a line a hundred times, the first time feet stepped on it, it would disappear. Yes.