A man came to the mosque for the 'Asr prayer and found the row to be full, so he prayed behind the row. We advised him that he was required to join the row, but we
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The questioner : May Allah reward you with the best reward for us and for the Muslims. This is what he says:The questioner : A man came to the mosque for the 'Asr prayer and found the row to be full, so he prayed behind the row. We advised him that he was required to join the row, but honestly, we are not sure. What is the correct ruling in this matter? And what is required of the one who prayed alone behind the row, with evidence?
The Shaykh : The one who prayed alone behind the row, because the row was full, owes nothing, and his prayer is valid. He is rewarded for it, based on the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He:[At-Taghabun 64:16].
As for if the row was not full, he must repeat the prayer, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family):Bulugh al-Maram 2:327
This is what we have established as the stronger position: that the prayer of the one who is alone behind the row is valid if the row in front of him is full.
As for the one who says: He should move forward to pray with the imam, his statement is weak. Because if we say this, we would contradict the Sunnah regarding the imam standing alone in his position. This is one point.
Second: This may lead to breaking through the rows. Let us suppose there are five rows behind the imam and he did not find a place in them. We say he should step over all these rows until he reaches the imam. This causes harm to the people. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) saw a man stepping over people and said:.
Third: If we say this, and another person comes after this one has moved forward to the imam, we say move forward to the imam. How many are there? Three. And this is wrong. Then a fourth comes and we say move forward, and they become four. Then perhaps they become a full row with the imam.
In any case, there is no evidence that he should go to stand with the imam. The statement that he should do so is a weak statement.
If a person says: He should pull one person [from the row], we say this is even weaker. Because if he pulls one person, he harms him by delaying him from the superior place to the inferior one, he disturbs his prayer, he opens a gap in the row, and he creates resentment in the heart of this man who was pulled.
What we said, that he prays alone behind the row due to the absence of a place, is what the evidences agree upon.
The Shaykh : The one who prayed alone behind the row, because the row was full, owes nothing, and his prayer is valid. He is rewarded for it, based on the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He:
So fear Allah as much as you are able
فاتقوا الله ما إستطعتمAs for if the row was not full, he must repeat the prayer, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family):
The prayer of a person who prays alone behind the row is not accepted.
لا صلاة لمنفردٍ خلف الصفThis is what we have established as the stronger position: that the prayer of the one who is alone behind the row is valid if the row in front of him is full.
As for the one who says: He should move forward to pray with the imam, his statement is weak. Because if we say this, we would contradict the Sunnah regarding the imam standing alone in his position. This is one point.
Second: This may lead to breaking through the rows. Let us suppose there are five rows behind the imam and he did not find a place in them. We say he should step over all these rows until he reaches the imam. This causes harm to the people. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) saw a man stepping over people and said:
Sit down, for you have caused harm
اجلس فقد آذيتThird: If we say this, and another person comes after this one has moved forward to the imam, we say move forward to the imam. How many are there? Three. And this is wrong. Then a fourth comes and we say move forward, and they become four. Then perhaps they become a full row with the imam.
In any case, there is no evidence that he should go to stand with the imam. The statement that he should do so is a weak statement.
If a person says: He should pull one person [from the row], we say this is even weaker. Because if he pulls one person, he harms him by delaying him from the superior place to the inferior one, he disturbs his prayer, he opens a gap in the row, and he creates resentment in the heart of this man who was pulled.
What we said, that he prays alone behind the row due to the absence of a place, is what the evidences agree upon.