He says that some people come to the mosque and place their sandals, their cane, or any item to reserve a spot for them in the first row, especially on Friday. Is this permissible or not?
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The questioner : He says that some people come to the mosque and place their sandals, their cane, or any item to reserve a spot for them in the first row, especially on Friday. Is this permissible or not?
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, the Imam of the righteous, the Seal of the Prophets, and the Messenger of the Lord of the worlds, and upon his family and all his Companions. As for what follows, before answering this question, we would like to say that advancing to the first row, then the next, is the prescribed practice that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded his Ummah to do and encouraged them to do, saying:Sunan Abi Dawud 674Sahih (Al-Albani) meaning those of mature intellect. However, the intended meaning of advancing is for a person to advance himself to the mosque so that he obtains the virtue of advancing. It is also important for people to strive to complete the first row, then the next. If a person completes the first row, then the next, he becomes as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) described regarding the angels, who line up before Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
It is also important in this context to straighten the rows by aligning the shoulders and ankles. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to strive to straighten them until one day he went out, and the Companions had understood this from him. He saw a man whose chest was protruding, so he said (peace and blessings be upon him):Mishkat al-Masabih 1085 meaning between your hearts and your viewpoints. This is a severe warning for those who do not straighten the rows.
It is also important in this matter to stand close together so that there are no gaps or spaces in the row, for the Shayatins enter between the worshippers if there are gaps and spaces in the row. People neglect all these matters due to a lack of awareness, a lack of guidance, and a lack of attention from the Imams. Many Imams, may Allah guide us and them, do nothing more than repeat a passing phrase like "straighten up," "be even," "stand straight," and the like, without inspecting the row with his eyes and straightening it truly. If he sees someone advanced, he says "step back," or if someone is behind, he says "step forward," without looking at whether people are completing the first row, then the next. For this reason, this phrase does not move the Ma'mumin or concern them, and it seems like a phrase that is merely said. I have even been informed that a man wanted to pray with another person, and there was no one else with them. When the Iqamah was called, this man turned and said, "Straighten up, be even," even though there was no one behind him, but it was a phrase that was said.
Also included in this is that if there is an Imam and a Ma'mum and no one else with them, the Sunnah is for the Ma'mum to stand on the right of the Imam and to be aligned with him, not behind him. This is contrary to what some people understand, that it is recommended for the Ma'mum to step back slightly from the Imam if there are only two of them. This is not correct.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Because if there are two of them, they form a row, and a row should be straightened.
These are matters I have pointed out, even though they were not in the question of the brother Abdul Rahman, but because they are very important.
The questioner : Yes, may Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : And the first one to be addressed with this is, in fact, the Imam.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : As for placing a cane, a shoe, or the like in a person's place, if a person places it and then goes out to his house or to the market and remains until near the prayer, then comes, this is forbidden for him and not permissible, because the places prepared for worship are for those who precede with their own person. For this reason, it is narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that it was said to him: "Shall we not build for you a tent in Mina?" He said (peace and blessings be upon him):Jami` at-Tirmidhi 881Hasan (Darussalam) This indicates that in the places prepared for worship, people are equal, and it is not permissible for anyone to reserve a portion of it.
However, if the one who placed the cane, the shoe, the handkerchief, or the mat is present in the mosque, but he likes to move away in order to review a book, or to study, or to read, or to pray, and then he sees that the rows have reached his place, he advances to it and sits in it, then there is no harm in that. But one should be careful of the action of some people in this situation, for he places his shoe or his cane in this place and goes to a corner of the mosque and delays until near the arrival of the Imam, so that he comes to his place by stepping over the necks of people. This is a matter from which one must be cautious, because it is a harm. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) saw a man stepping over the necks of people, so he said:.
So, in summary, the answer is that we say: If a person places these things while he is in the mosque, there is no blame on him, but he must be careful not to step over people. And if he places them and goes out, then that is not permissible.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, the Imam of the righteous, the Seal of the Prophets, and the Messenger of the Lord of the worlds, and upon his family and all his Companions. As for what follows, before answering this question, we would like to say that advancing to the first row, then the next, is the prescribed practice that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded his Ummah to do and encouraged them to do, saying:
let those of your who are sedate and prudent be near me
ليلني منكم أولو الأحلام والنهىIt is also important in this context to straighten the rows by aligning the shoulders and ankles. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to strive to straighten them until one day he went out, and the Companions had understood this from him. He saw a man whose chest was protruding, so he said (peace and blessings be upon him):
Servants of God, you must straighten your rows, or God will certainly put your faces in contrary directions.
عباد الله! لتسون صفوفكم، أو ليخالفن الله بين وجوهكمIt is also important in this matter to stand close together so that there are no gaps or spaces in the row, for the Shayatins enter between the worshippers if there are gaps and spaces in the row. People neglect all these matters due to a lack of awareness, a lack of guidance, and a lack of attention from the Imams. Many Imams, may Allah guide us and them, do nothing more than repeat a passing phrase like "straighten up," "be even," "stand straight," and the like, without inspecting the row with his eyes and straightening it truly. If he sees someone advanced, he says "step back," or if someone is behind, he says "step forward," without looking at whether people are completing the first row, then the next. For this reason, this phrase does not move the Ma'mumin or concern them, and it seems like a phrase that is merely said. I have even been informed that a man wanted to pray with another person, and there was no one else with them. When the Iqamah was called, this man turned and said, "Straighten up, be even," even though there was no one behind him, but it was a phrase that was said.
Also included in this is that if there is an Imam and a Ma'mum and no one else with them, the Sunnah is for the Ma'mum to stand on the right of the Imam and to be aligned with him, not behind him. This is contrary to what some people understand, that it is recommended for the Ma'mum to step back slightly from the Imam if there are only two of them. This is not correct.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Because if there are two of them, they form a row, and a row should be straightened.
These are matters I have pointed out, even though they were not in the question of the brother Abdul Rahman, but because they are very important.
The questioner : Yes, may Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : And the first one to be addressed with this is, in fact, the Imam.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : As for placing a cane, a shoe, or the like in a person's place, if a person places it and then goes out to his house or to the market and remains until near the prayer, then comes, this is forbidden for him and not permissible, because the places prepared for worship are for those who precede with their own person. For this reason, it is narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that it was said to him: "Shall we not build for you a tent in Mina?" He said (peace and blessings be upon him):
Mina is a resting place for whoever arrives.
منى مناخ من سبقHowever, if the one who placed the cane, the shoe, the handkerchief, or the mat is present in the mosque, but he likes to move away in order to review a book, or to study, or to read, or to pray, and then he sees that the rows have reached his place, he advances to it and sits in it, then there is no harm in that. But one should be careful of the action of some people in this situation, for he places his shoe or his cane in this place and goes to a corner of the mosque and delays until near the arrival of the Imam, so that he comes to his place by stepping over the necks of people. This is a matter from which one must be cautious, because it is a harm. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) saw a man stepping over the necks of people, so he said:
Sit down, for you have caused harm
اجلس فقد ءاذيتSo, in summary, the answer is that we say: If a person places these things while he is in the mosque, there is no blame on him, but he must be careful not to step over people. And if he places them and goes out, then that is not permissible.
The questioner : Yes.