Explanation of the author's statement: "…and their imam is in the middle of them…"
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The Shaykh : The author said: "and their imam is in the middle of them". "Their imam" means the imam of the naked people is in the middle of them, that is, between them. This means he does not stand in front. Why? Because it is more concealing for him than standing in front. Accordingly, if ten people are found, all of them naked, and highway robbers attack them and take their clothes—and this existed in the past, meaning in our lands, where people's clothes were taken between the town and the pasture—yes, if the clothes are taken and the time for prayer arrives, we say: Pray in a single row, with the imam among you, correct? If the row is long, yes, even if it is long, even if there are a thousand people, they pray in a single row, clear? And the imam is among them. Do they pray sitting? No, according to the school of thought, they pray sitting as a recommendation, and they gesture in bowing and prostration, which is also recommended.
And some scholars said: Rather, the imam should stand in front, because the Sunnah is for the imam to be in front of them, and his standing behind does not benefit anything. The most that is there is that he himself is more concealed. Also, if it is more concealing for him, then he is only excused. And when a person shares his defect with others, it becomes lighter for him. So if he stands in front, he does not feel any discomfort, or shyness, or embarrassment, because everyone with him is in this state. And it is not permissible to miss the position of the imam and his distinctiveness in the qiblah, because the imam is the one who is followed, so he should be distinguished from his followers, who are the ma'mum. This opinion is closer to the truth. Nevertheless, an exception is made from the author's statement if they are in darkness or if they cannot see. If they are in darkness or cannot see, then their imam stands in front of them as usual, clear? Because the prohibited matter has been removed. Yes, good.
And some scholars said: Rather, the imam should stand in front, because the Sunnah is for the imam to be in front of them, and his standing behind does not benefit anything. The most that is there is that he himself is more concealed. Also, if it is more concealing for him, then he is only excused. And when a person shares his defect with others, it becomes lighter for him. So if he stands in front, he does not feel any discomfort, or shyness, or embarrassment, because everyone with him is in this state. And it is not permissible to miss the position of the imam and his distinctiveness in the qiblah, because the imam is the one who is followed, so he should be distinguished from his followers, who are the ma'mum. This opinion is closer to the truth. Nevertheless, an exception is made from the author's statement if they are in darkness or if they cannot see. If they are in darkness or cannot see, then their imam stands in front of them as usual, clear? Because the prohibited matter has been removed. Yes, good.
