Fatwa ID: 05222

Answered by: Maulana Abdul Muktader

Question

Is it the responsibility of Imam that before he starts the salah, he ensures that the first or any incomplete rows have an approximately equal number of people on both the right and left? Sometimes people congregate on the right side of the row more than the left. However, as more people join the congregation after salaat has started the row evens out on both ends.

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

It is the responsibility of the imam to ensure the rows are equal as he should place himself in the middle.

قال الشمني: وينبغي أن يأمرهم بأن يتراصوا ويسدوا الخلل ويسوا مناكبهم ويقف وسطا. (الدر المختار ج١ ص ٥٦٨ ط. دار فكر)

To ensure that the rows are equal on both sides, it is sunnah for the imam to stand in the Mihāb.

قال في المعراج وفِي مبسوط بكر: السنة أن يقوم في المِحْراب ليعتدل الطرفان. (رد المحتار ج١ ص ٥٦٨ ط. دار فكر)

Only Allah knows best

Written by Maulana Abdul Muktader

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham