The Obligation of Standing Close Together and Filling the Gaps in Prayer
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Question:
The questioner says: I hope you will give us advice from the Book and the Sunnah regarding the worshippers. The imam says: “Stand close together and straighten your rows,” and so on, but unfortunately, none of that happens. So I hope you will guide us all?
Answer:
It is obligatory for the worshippers to fear Allah, to straighten their rows, and to stand close together, even if the imam says nothing. However, the imam says to them to remind them: “Straighten your rows, stand close together, draw near, complete the first row, then the next.” It is obligatory for them to do this, even if the imam remains silent; they must complete the first row, then the next, and stand close together among themselves. There should be no gaps. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Do not So they should draw near until the foot of each one is next to the foot of the other, placing his foot against his without causing harm, until they fill the gaps and are aligned, with no one advancing ahead of another, so that his chest is level with his brother’s chest, not ahead of him.
And so, whenever a row is completed, complete the second and third rows, and so on. This is what is obligatory for everyone, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded this. He said:Sunan Abi Dawud 667Sahih (Al-Albani) And he said: Sunan an-Nasa'i 819Hasan (Darussalam) And he said: Sunan Abi Dawud 666Sahih (Al-Albani).
So it is obligatory for the congregation in the mosque to stand close together among themselves, to fill the gaps, and to complete the first row, then the next. This is what is obligatory for everyone. Yes.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good.
The questioner says: I hope you will give us advice from the Book and the Sunnah regarding the worshippers. The imam says: “Stand close together and straighten your rows,” and so on, but unfortunately, none of that happens. So I hope you will guide us all?
Answer:
It is obligatory for the worshippers to fear Allah, to straighten their rows, and to stand close together, even if the imam says nothing. However, the imam says to them to remind them: “Straighten your rows, stand close together, draw near, complete the first row, then the next.” It is obligatory for them to do this, even if the imam remains silent; they must complete the first row, then the next, and stand close together among themselves. There should be no gaps. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Do not
Do not leave gaps for Satan; fill the gaps.
تذروا فرجات للشيطان، سدوا الخللAnd so, whenever a row is completed, complete the second and third rows, and so on. This is what is obligatory for everyone, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded this. He said:
Stand close together in your rows, bring them near one another, and stand neck to neck
رصوا صفوفكم، وقاربوا بينها، وحاذوا بالأعناقWhoever completes a row, may Allah be generous to him, and whoever cuts a row, may Allah cut him off.
من وصل صفًا وصله الله، ومن قطع صفًا قطعه اللهNarrated Abdullah ibn Umar: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: Set the rows in order, stand shoulder to shoulder, close the gaps, be pliant in the hands of your brethren, and do not leave openings for the devil. If anyone joins up a row, Allah will join him up, but if anyone breaks a row, Allah will cut him off. Abu Dawud said: The name of Abu Shjrah is Kathir b. Murrah.
سدوا الخلل، لا تذروا فرجات للشيطانSo it is obligatory for the congregation in the mosque to stand close together among themselves, to fill the gaps, and to complete the first row, then the next. This is what is obligatory for everyone. Yes.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.