Is it permissible to pull someone from the first row to the last row if the first row is full? We request an answer accompanied by evidence.
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The questioner : Is it permissible to pull someone from the first row to the last row if the first row is full? We request an answer accompanied by evidence?
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. It appears that this brother wants to know: if a man comes to pray with the congregation and finds the row full, is it permissible for him to pull someone from that row to stand with him? That is what appears to be the case.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Because pulling someone when the row is not yet complete is not what is sought in a question like this.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : So we say: if a person comes to pray with the congregation and the row is full, he should pray behind the row alone, with the congregation.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And he should not pull anyone, because pulling someone entails three harms:
The first harm: opening a gap in the row, which is contrary to what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded regarding closing ranks and filling gaps.
Second, he transgresses against the one he pulled by delaying him from the superior row to the inferior row.
Third, he disturbs his prayer, for this person who is pulled must have his heart move and his soul tremble when someone pulls him from behind.
Therefore, and for the sake of these three harms, we say to him: pray with the congregation alone. This does not contradict the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Ibn Hibban 10:489 Because although we see that the correct view regarding his saying: is that it is a negation of validity, since there is no evidence that diverts this negation from negating validity to negating perfection, we say: if it is a negation of validity, it indicates the obligation of standing in a row. The obligation of standing in a row, like other obligations, is lifted from a person if he is unable to fulfill it. Here, he is unable to stand in a row because the row is full, so the obligation of standing in a row is lifted from him. For this reason, when a woman has no place in the rows of men by Shari'ah, she prays alone behind the row with the congregation. Then we say to this person who did not find a place in the row: your situation is not free from committing one of two prohibitions: either pulling a person from the row, and we have already explained its harms.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Or advancing to stand in a row with the imam, which also entails a harm, namely stepping over necks, because there must be a row or more between him and the imam in such a situation. This is stepping over the rows, and it may cause alarm among the followers.
It also contains another prohibition, which is that it is prescribed that if the congregation is three or more, the imam should stand alone to be distinguished from them. If another person stands with him, this Shari'ah purpose is lost.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Or we say: if you do not ... with these two, then leave the congregation entirely and pray alone. This entails missing the congregation, and there is no doubt that praying with the congregation alone due to an excuse is better than leaving the congregation entirely.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. It appears that this brother wants to know: if a man comes to pray with the congregation and finds the row full, is it permissible for him to pull someone from that row to stand with him? That is what appears to be the case.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Because pulling someone when the row is not yet complete is not what is sought in a question like this.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : So we say: if a person comes to pray with the congregation and the row is full, he should pray behind the row alone, with the congregation.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And he should not pull anyone, because pulling someone entails three harms:
The first harm: opening a gap in the row, which is contrary to what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded regarding closing ranks and filling gaps.
Second, he transgresses against the one he pulled by delaying him from the superior row to the inferior row.
Third, he disturbs his prayer, for this person who is pulled must have his heart move and his soul tremble when someone pulls him from behind.
Therefore, and for the sake of these three harms, we say to him: pray with the congregation alone. This does not contradict the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
There is no prayer for a single person behind the row
لا صلاة لفرد خلف الصفThere is no prayer
لا صلاةThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Or advancing to stand in a row with the imam, which also entails a harm, namely stepping over necks, because there must be a row or more between him and the imam in such a situation. This is stepping over the rows, and it may cause alarm among the followers.
It also contains another prohibition, which is that it is prescribed that if the congregation is three or more, the imam should stand alone to be distinguished from them. If another person stands with him, this Shari'ah purpose is lost.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Or we say: if you do not ... with these two, then leave the congregation entirely and pray alone. This entails missing the congregation, and there is no doubt that praying with the congregation alone due to an excuse is better than leaving the congregation entirely.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.