Follow-up to the ruling on a follower who stands to the right of the imam due to the lack of space in the row.
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The questioner : Shaykh, may Allah reward you: What is the ruling on a follower who did not find a place in the row and stood to the right of the imam? What is the ruling on his prayer? And if an unexpected event befalls the imam, is it permissible for him to lead the worshippers, as happened yesterday in the 'Isha' prayer?
The Shaykh : The Sunnah is for the imam to stand ahead of the followers if there are two or more, and it is not befitting for anyone to stand beside the imam, except in cases of extreme necessity. For example, if the mosque is full and a person finds no place except beside the imam, there is no harm. If there are two people and they need to stand beside the imam, let one be on the right and the other on the left, and let them not both be on his right. This is because when forming rows was first established, the imam would stand between two people, so it was prescribed that one be on the right and the other on the left.
As for what some of the common people now believe, that if two men need to be with the imam, they should both be on his right, this has no basis. Yes, if there is only one person, he should not stand except on the imam's right.
The Shaykh : The Sunnah is for the imam to stand ahead of the followers if there are two or more, and it is not befitting for anyone to stand beside the imam, except in cases of extreme necessity. For example, if the mosque is full and a person finds no place except beside the imam, there is no harm. If there are two people and they need to stand beside the imam, let one be on the right and the other on the left, and let them not both be on his right. This is because when forming rows was first established, the imam would stand between two people, so it was prescribed that one be on the right and the other on the left.
As for what some of the common people now believe, that if two men need to be with the imam, they should both be on his right, this has no basis. Yes, if there is only one person, he should not stand except on the imam's right.