Fatwa ID: 09264
Answered by Mufti Nuski Cassim
Question:
Anything on leaving the sides on the saff empty even though it part of the masjid?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Leaving the sides of the saff empty during prayer is incorrect and contrary to the sunnah.
We are instructed to straighten, fill, and connect the rows in congregational prayer.
Anas bin Malik (رضي الله عنه) narrated: “Once the Iqama was pronounced and Allah’s Messenger ﷺ faced us and said, “Straighten your rows and stand closer together, for I see you from behind my back.’’ –Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith #719.
‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (رضي الله عنه) narrated: “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.” –Sunan Abu Dawud, Hadith #666.
Leaving the sides of the rows empty during prayer creates an imbalance and goes against the instruction to fill the gaps.
That said, if there are empty gaps in the rows, the prayer of the congregants is still valid, however it goes against the instructions of the Prophet ﷺ.
Only Allah ﷻ knows best.
Written by Mufti Nuski Cassim
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References:
حَدَّثَنَا أَنَسٌ، قَالَ أُقِيمَتِ الصَّلاَةُ فَأَقْبَلَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِوَجْهِهِ فَقَالَ “أَقِيمُوا صُفُوفَكُمْ وَتَرَاصُّوا، فَإِنِّي أَرَاكُمْ مِنْ وَرَاءِ ظَهْرِي”
Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 719
حَدَّثَنَا عِيسَى بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْغَافِقِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، ء وَحَدِيثُ ابْنِ وَهْبٍ أَتَمُّ ء عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الزَّاهِرِيَّةِ، عَنْ كَثِيرِ بْنِ مُرَّةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، ء قَالَ قُتَيْبَةُ عَنْ أَبِي الزَّاهِرِيَّةِ، عَنْ أَبِي شَجَرَةَ، لَمْ يَذْكُرِ ابْنَ عُمَرَ ء أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ” أَقِيمُوا الصُّفُوفَ وَحَاذُوا بَيْنَ الْمَنَاكِبِ وَسُدُّوا الْخَلَلَ وَلِينُوا بِأَيْدِي إِخْوَانِكُمْ ” . لَمْ يَقُلْ عِيسَى ” بِأَيْدِي إِخْوَانِكُمْ ” . ” وَلاَ تَذَرُوا فُرُجَاتٍ لِلشَّيْطَانِ وَمَنْ وَصَلَ صَفًّا وَصَلَهُ اللَّهُ وَمَنْ قَطَعَ صَفًّا قَطَعَهُ اللَّهُ ” . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ أَبُو شَجَرَةَ كَثِيرُ بْنُ مُرَّةَ . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَمَعْنَى ” وَلِينُوا بِأَيْدِي إِخْوَانِكُمْ ” . إِذَا جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى الصَّفِّ فَذَهَبَ يَدْخُلُ فِيهِ فَيَنْبَغِي أَنْ يُلَيِّنَ لَهُ كُلُّ رَجُلٍ مَنْكِبَيْهِ حَتَّى يَدْخُلَ فِي الصَّفِّ
Sunan Abu Dawud, Hadith 666