Question (Q-24):
Is it permissible to stand next to the Imām in congregational prayer despite there being room for people behind to pray in the courtyard of the Masjid?
Answer:
In this situation if there is room for people to stand in the Masjid courtyard then it is not valid for the followers to stand level with their Imām. This is because it is Wājib for an Imām to be ahead of his followers.
It is stated in Fath ul Qadīr (Volume 1, Page 306),
“Not placing the Imām of the men at the front is forbidden”
In the time of the Holy Prophet (صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالىٰ عَلَيْهِ وَ اٰلِه وَ سَلَّمَ) and the Honourable Sahābah (رضى الله عنهم), the Imām always stood in front of the followers. This proves it is necessary (Wājib).
It is stated in Al Bahr Ar Rāiq, Volume 1, Page 617,
ولو کانوا جماعة فينبغي للإمام أن يتقدم ولو لم يتقدم ،الخ
“And if they are a group then it is necessary for the Imām to be forward…”
In Al Bahr Ar Rāiq this action is described as Makrūh. Al Imām Ibn Humām (رحمة الله تعالى عليه) has stated that this refers to the action being severely disliked (Makrūh At Tahrīmī). This therefore clarifies why some books class the Imām not being ahead of the followers as being Harām (forbidden) whilst others describe it to be Makrūh (disliked – as the action being Makrūh At Tahrīmī means it is close to Harām). The same position is held by the author of Al Hidāyah. The position that this action is Makrūh At Tanzīhī (slightly disliked) is a weak position.
Therefore, when there is enough space, the rows should be arranged behind the Imām. However, if there is a large crowd and the space is limited then in the state of necessity, it is permissible to stand alongside the Imām. This will not be disliked (Makrūh), but in this case, the Imām’s heels should be ahead of the followers’ heels:
تقدم الإمام بعقبه عن عقب المقتدي شرط لصحة اقتدائه
“The Imām’s heels being in front of the follower’s heels is a condition for the validity of his being a Muqtadī (Follower).”
(Radd ul Muhtār/Nūr ul īdhāh)
In fact, if there is a large crowd and not enough space, it is actually permissible to perform Sajdah on the back of any person performing Salāh in front of you. It is stated in Nūr ul īdhāh,
لزحمة سجد فيها علي ظهر مصل صلاته
“Due to there being a large crowd, he can perform Sajdah on the back of another person who is participating in the same Salāh.”
Allah (تعالى) Knows Best.
Written by Muftī Shamsulhudā Khān Misbāhī (Allah preserve him)
