It is said that a discussion took place among a group regarding whether, if a man arrives late at a mosque and finds that the prayer has been established and the row is full with no space in the row, is it permissible for him to
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : It is said that a discussion took place among a group regarding whether, if a man arrives late at the mosque and finds that the prayer has been established and the row is full with no space for him in the row, is it permissible for him to pull a man from that full row so that he can pray, or should he pray behind the row alone? May Allah guide you?
The Shaykh : This issue has three aspects. If a person comes and finds that the row is complete, he either prays alone behind the row, or he pulls someone from the row to pray with him, or he moves forward to pray to the right of the imam. These are three options if he enters the prayer, or he leaves the prayer with this congregation. Which of these four matters is preferred? We say: The preferred of these four matters is to stand alone behind the row and pray with the imam. This is because the obligatory is praying with the congregation and in the row. These two are obligatory. If one of them becomes impossible, which is standing in the row, the other remains obligatory, which is praying with the congregation. Therefore, we say: Pray alone behind the row to attain the virtue of the congregation. Standing in the row is not obligatory upon you in this case due to your inability to do so. And Allah the Exalted said:[At-Taghabun 64:16] This is witnessed by the fact that a woman stands behind the row alone if there are no women with her, because she has no place by the Shari'ah in the row of men. So when her Shari'ah place in the row of men becomes impossible, she prays alone. Similarly, this man, when he arrives and the row is complete, has no physical place in the row, so the obligation of standing in the row is dropped from him, and the congregation becomes obligatory upon him, so he prays behind the row.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : As for pulling someone to pray with him, this is not recommended because it leads to three dangers. The first danger: 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.
The second: moving this pulled person from a superior place to an inferior place, which is a type of harm to him. The third: disturbing his prayer, for this praying person, if pulled, must have some movement in his heart, and this is also a type of harm to him.
As for the third issue, which is standing with the imam, it is also not recommended for him to stand there, because the imam must be distinguished from the followers by place, just as he is distinguished from them by leading in words and actions.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : He says takbir before them, bows before them, and prostrates before them. He should be distinguished from them in place. This is the way of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), that the imam leads the followers. This is an apparent suitability in his being distinguished from them, standing alone in his place. If some of the followers stand with him, this characteristic that the imam should stand alone is removed.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : As for the fourth issue, which is leaving the congregation entirely, this also has no basis, because the congregation is obligatory and standing in the row is obligatory. If he is unable to do one of them, the other is not dropped due to his inability to do it.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : So the best is to stand behind the congregation alone, and he does not count what he prayed with the congregation before coming to it...
The Shaykh : No, it is counted... What is the benefit?
The questioner : Yes, meaning he counts what he performed with the imam, even if he was alone.
The Shaykh : Yes, even if he was alone.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Because we say in this case, or in this situation, the obligation of standing in the row is dropped from him due to his inability to do so.
The questioner : Yes, this is a message we received from our brother Hamad al-Bassam from Riyadh.
The Shaykh : This issue has three aspects. If a person comes and finds that the row is complete, he either prays alone behind the row, or he pulls someone from the row to pray with him, or he moves forward to pray to the right of the imam. These are three options if he enters the prayer, or he leaves the prayer with this congregation. Which of these four matters is preferred? We say: The preferred of these four matters is to stand alone behind the row and pray with the imam. This is because the obligatory is praying with the congregation and in the row. These two are obligatory. If one of them becomes impossible, which is standing in the row, the other remains obligatory, which is praying with the congregation. Therefore, we say: Pray alone behind the row to attain the virtue of the congregation. Standing in the row is not obligatory upon you in this case due to your inability to do so. And Allah the Exalted said:
So fear Allah as much as you are able
فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : As for pulling someone to pray with him, this is not recommended because it leads to three dangers. The first danger: 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.
The second: moving this pulled person from a superior place to an inferior place, which is a type of harm to him. The third: disturbing his prayer, for this praying person, if pulled, must have some movement in his heart, and this is also a type of harm to him.
As for the third issue, which is standing with the imam, it is also not recommended for him to stand there, because the imam must be distinguished from the followers by place, just as he is distinguished from them by leading in words and actions.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : He says takbir before them, bows before them, and prostrates before them. He should be distinguished from them in place. This is the way of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), that the imam leads the followers. This is an apparent suitability in his being distinguished from them, standing alone in his place. If some of the followers stand with him, this characteristic that the imam should stand alone is removed.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : As for the fourth issue, which is leaving the congregation entirely, this also has no basis, because the congregation is obligatory and standing in the row is obligatory. If he is unable to do one of them, the other is not dropped due to his inability to do it.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : So the best is to stand behind the congregation alone, and he does not count what he prayed with the congregation before coming to it...
The Shaykh : No, it is counted... What is the benefit?
The questioner : Yes, meaning he counts what he performed with the imam, even if he was alone.
The Shaykh : Yes, even if he was alone.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Because we say in this case, or in this situation, the obligation of standing in the row is dropped from him due to his inability to do so.
The questioner : Yes, this is a message we received from our brother Hamad al-Bassam from Riyadh.