Which is better: for a person to sit to the right of the imam in the second row, or to the left of the imam in the first row, and that before the iqamah?
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The questioner : Which is better: for me to sit to the right of the imam on the right side of the mosque in the second row, or to the left of the imam in the first row, and that before the iqamah?
The Shaykh : The first row is better; it is better than the second, whether you are on its left or its right, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan Ibn Majah 992 They said: How is that, O Messenger of Allah? He said: , and he said (peace and blessings be upon him and his family): Muwatta Malik 3:3.
So the first row is better than the second absolutely, but it remains to be said: in a single row, is the right side better even if it is far, or is the closer position better?
The answer is to say: the closer position is more preferable, unless the right and left are equal in closeness, in which case the right is better. Accordingly, the closer position on the left is better than the farther position on the right. This is indicated by the fact that people begin the row from its middle and complete it from all sides, and they do not complete the right side first and then begin with the left.
This is also indicated by the fact that the prescribed practice initially for a row of three was for the imam to be in the middle of them, i.e., between them, with one of the ma'mum to his right and the second to his left. If the right side were absolutely better, even if far, both ma'mum would have been to his right. It is known that the imam being between the two was abrogated, and the Sunnah became for the imam to be in front.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : The first row is better; it is better than the second, whether you are on its left or its right, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Will you not form your rows as the angels form their rows before their Lord?
ألا تصفون كما تصف الملائكة عند ربهاThey line up tightly and complete the first row, then the next.
يتراصون ويكملون الأول فالأولIf people knew what was in the adhan and the first row of the prayer and could only draw lots for it, they would draw lots.
لو يعلم الناس ما في النداء والصف الأول ثم لم يجدوا إلا أن يستهموا عليه لاستهمواSo the first row is better than the second absolutely, but it remains to be said: in a single row, is the right side better even if it is far, or is the closer position better?
The answer is to say: the closer position is more preferable, unless the right and left are equal in closeness, in which case the right is better. Accordingly, the closer position on the left is better than the farther position on the right. This is indicated by the fact that people begin the row from its middle and complete it from all sides, and they do not complete the right side first and then begin with the left.
This is also indicated by the fact that the prescribed practice initially for a row of three was for the imam to be in the middle of them, i.e., between them, with one of the ma'mum to his right and the second to his left. If the right side were absolutely better, even if far, both ma'mum would have been to his right. It is known that the imam being between the two was abrogated, and the Sunnah became for the imam to be in front.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.