Question:
Can a person start a new Saff alone when the previous row is filled, or does he have to find or drag someone back to join him? Jazakallahu Khaira [Published as received]
The Fatwa
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
The Answer
If the row ahead is filled the latecomer should simply join the prayer.
The Fiqh of the Answer
The rows (Ṣufūf) in congregational prayer hold a significant meaning in Islām. They denote equality amongst the worshippers before Almighty Allah and unity between adherents of the same faith. Therefore, Imam Abū Nāṣir al-Aqṭa’ (d. 474 AH) stated that it is deemed undesirable for an individual to stand alone behind the Ṣaff, except in situations where there is no available space ahead. In such cases, it is considered an excuse (‘Udhr), comparable to women standing behind men in congregational prayers.
Imam al-Sarūjī (d.710 AH), Imam al-Shurunbulālī (d.1069 AH) and Imam al-Ṭaḥṭāwī (d.1231 AH) recorded in their works that a person should pull someone back to begin a new row, but they clearly indicated that this should not be practised upon today. This is because it may lead to someone nullifying the prayer.
And Almighty Allah Alone Knows Best
Maulana Mohammed Aneesur Rahman
Trainee Mufti
Reviewed and approved by
Mufti Faraz Adam
Darul Iftaa Muadh ibn Jabal
www.darulfiqh.com
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وقد قالوا: يكره للرجل أن يصلي منفردًا خلف الصف وذلك لحديث وابصة، أن النبي صلى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قال: لا صلاة لمنفرد خلف الصّف. فإن لم يجد فرجةً جاز؛ لأنه موضع عذر، فصار كقيام المرأة خلف الصف. (شرح مختصر القدوري للأقطع)
ذهب الفقهاء وأكثر أهل الأثر إلى جواز صلاة المنفرد خلف الصف… ولو جاء والصف متصل انتظر آخر، فإن خاف فوت الركعة جذب واحدا من الصف إن علم أنه لا يتأذى به ، وقال في شرح الإسبيجابي: يقوم وحده ولا يجذب أحدًا، وهو الأصح، وقيل : القيام وحده أولى في زماننا، لغلبة الجهل على العوام، فإذا جره إليه أفسد صلاته ربما… (غاية للسروجي)
ولو كان الصف منتظماً ينتظر مجيء آخر، فإن خاف فوت الركعة جذب عالماً بالحكم لا يتأذى به، وإلا قام وحده، وهذه ترد القول بفساد من فسح لامرئ داخل بجنبه. (مراقي الفلاح للشرنبلالي)
الأصح أنه ينتظر إلى الركوع، فإن جاء رجلٌ وإِلَّا جَذَبَ إليه رجلاً، أو دخل في الصف، والقيام وحده ه أولى في زماننا، لغلبة الجهل، فلعله إذا جره تفسد صلاته
وقيل : إن رأى من لا يتأذى بجذيه لصداقة أو دين زاحمه، أو عالِماً جَذَبَه. (حاشية الطحطاوي على مراقي الفلاح)