The ruling on praying in the streets and roads outside the mosque, following the imam

Q: Due to the heavy crowds in some Friday mosques, the mosque may become full, causing some people to pray in the streets and roads following the imam. What is your opinion on this? And is there a difference between the case where the road is between the worshippers and the mosque, and the case where there is no separating road?

A: If the rows are connected, there is no harm. Likewise, if the followers are outside the mosque and they see some of the rows in front of them, even if some streets separate them, there is no harm in that. This is because praying in congregation is obligatory, and they are able to do so by seeing the imam or some of the followers. However, no one should pray in front of the imam, because that is not a position for a follower. And success is from Allah.