The ruling on one who insists on not straightening the row on the basis of a weak excuse?
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The questioner : May Allah guide you, O Shaykh. There is a man in one of the mosques who does not straighten the row. When he is asked, "Why do you not straighten the row?" he says, "I cannot stand." He places the heel of his foot on the mat and claims that he is holding onto it. He was told, "Sit down," but he said, "No." Which is better for him: sitting, or not straightening the row?
The Shaykh : Standing, even if he does not straighten the row?
The questioner : Despite the severe warning against not straightening the row.
The Shaykh : But I doubt the truth of his statement. What is the difference between aligning with the people or falling behind?
The questioner : No, on the mats, the mosque mats.
The Shaykh : Yes, I do.
The questioner : He says, "The edge is here," and he places the heel of his foot on it and holds onto it, which is what he claims.
The Shaykh : It appears that this is only to avoid conflict with himself, otherwise there is no difference. And what is he holding onto? Because the edge is not large enough that we would say he is holding onto it, meaning it is not a raised platform where he could insert his heel and hold onto it.
The questioner : He is between thirty and forty years old, and he is a person who is, I mean, in debt and committed.
The Shaykh : Tell him: He must align with the people and bear it. And if it is not possible, let him rely on a cane. He should take a cane with him and rely on it.
The questioner : But he does not sit?
The Shaykh : No, he does not sit, because standing is a pillar.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : He does not sit, but he does not contradict the Muslims. I would have said, "Do not come to the mosque," were it not that I am hesitant to say so. As long as he cannot do anything but contradict the row, he should not come to the mosque, because this disrupts the congregation. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Abi Dawud 668Sahih (Al-Albani) This means that if one person fails to straighten the row, the prayer of the entire congregation is disrupted. Therefore, emphasize this to him. Tell him: Muhammad says: He must come, even if he relies on a cane when he stands.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The Shaykh : Standing, even if he does not straighten the row?
The questioner : Despite the severe warning against not straightening the row.
The Shaykh : But I doubt the truth of his statement. What is the difference between aligning with the people or falling behind?
The questioner : No, on the mats, the mosque mats.
The Shaykh : Yes, I do.
The questioner : He says, "The edge is here," and he places the heel of his foot on it and holds onto it, which is what he claims.
The Shaykh : It appears that this is only to avoid conflict with himself, otherwise there is no difference. And what is he holding onto? Because the edge is not large enough that we would say he is holding onto it, meaning it is not a raised platform where he could insert his heel and hold onto it.
The questioner : He is between thirty and forty years old, and he is a person who is, I mean, in debt and committed.
The Shaykh : Tell him: He must align with the people and bear it. And if it is not possible, let him rely on a cane. He should take a cane with him and rely on it.
The questioner : But he does not sit?
The Shaykh : No, he does not sit, because standing is a pillar.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : He does not sit, but he does not contradict the Muslims. I would have said, "Do not come to the mosque," were it not that I am hesitant to say so. As long as he cannot do anything but contradict the row, he should not come to the mosque, because this disrupts the congregation. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
the straightening of the rows is part of perfecting the prayer
تسوية الصف من تمام الصلاةThe questioner : May Allah reward you with good, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Yes.