Ruling on Reserving a Place in the Mosque

Question:
Is it permissible to reserve a place in the mosque?

Answer:
No, it is not permissible. The seat belongs to the one who arrived first.
Q: If he is sitting and then leaves, perhaps to place something to keep the place?
The Shaykh: If he returns to his seat, he has the stronger right to it, whether he stood up to perform wudu' or to attend to a need.
Q: Regarding reserving a place during the lesson between the adhan and the iqamah for 'Isha', a person comes to perform voluntary prayer and then waits for the lesson. When the time for the lesson comes, he places a book or something in his place and sits close to listen?
The Shaykh: And he is in the mosque, or he stood up to perform wudu', there is no contradiction.
Q: Reserving a place other than the one where the worshipper prays, such as the Sunday and Wednesday lesson at the place, as if he places books and leaves?
The Shaykh: It appears that it is not befitting for the one who arrived first in the circle or the one who arrived first in the row, except if he arrived first and then an obstacle arose, such as standing up to bring a book or standing up to perform wudu' while he was the first to arrive. As for coming to place it and then leaving; no.