The ruling on the prayer of a person praying alone behind the rows if he does not find a gap

Question:
If a person enters the mosque to pray with the congregation and the row is full, is it permissible for him to pray behind them in a second row, or should he pull one person from the first row? Please inform us, may Allah reward you with good. The person asking this question is the listener (M. N).

Answer:
It is obligatory for him to look for a gap so that he can enter it; he should not pray alone. He should look for a gap, or stand to the right of the imam. He should not pull anyone, because if he pulls someone, he opens a gap in the row, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded to fill the gaps and not to leave spaces in the prayer. However, he should wait, perhaps someone will come to stand with him. If they complete the prayer, he prays alone, and he is excused, and praise be to Allah. As for praying alone behind the row, that is not allowed. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: And when he saw a man praying alone behind the row, he ordered him to repeat the prayer. He did not ask him, saying, "Did you find a gap or not?" Rather, he ordered him to repeat the prayer when he saw him praying alone behind the row. He ordered him to repeat the prayer and said: So no one should pray alone behind the row. Rather, he should wait, or look for a gap, or stand to the right of the imam. This is what is obligatory for him.

The presenter : May Allah reward you with good.