Leaving gaps between the Saff
Question:-
1. It is understood from certain narrations that going to the Masjid is necessary for a male. However, there are occasions when Ulama and scholars gather for a function such as a braai etc. and, instead of proceeding to the Masjid for Salaah, they perform Salaah at the venue where the function is held. Is this correct? These narrations are as follows:
لا صلوة لجار المسجد الا في المسجد
عن أبي هريرة قال: قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: “من سمع المنادي فلم يمنعه من اتباعه عذر”، قالوا: وما العذر؟ قال: “خوف أو مرض، لم تقبل منه الصلاة التي صلى”. (سنن ابي داود)
2. Is the practice of leaving gaps between the Sufoof Makrooh-e-Tanzihi or Makrooh-e-Tahreemi? Kindly provide a reference for your answer.
Answer:-
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It is Sunnah-e-Muakkadah to pray Salaah with congregation in the Masjid. However, if one performs Salaah in congregation anywhere besides a Masjid, then the congregants will receive the reward of Jamaat, albeit the reward of performing Salaah in Jamaat in the Masjid is far greater.[i] The narrations that you have quoted which state that the Salaah of one who lives in close proximity to the Masjid, or hears the Adhaan, will not be valid except that it is performed in the Masjid, are interpreted as Salaah not being completely perfect, or one will not receive the virtue of performing Salaah in the Masjid, since the reward of performing Salaah elsewhere is less.[ii]
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It is Makrooh-e-Tahrimi (highly detestable) to leave gaps in the rows when performing Salaah.[iii] The references are provided in the footnotes below.
Note: These issues should be resolved with wisdom and kindness, without causing any form of disunity amongst the masses.
[i] فتاوي دار العلوم زكريا احكام الجماعة ص ٣٠٦-٣١٠ ج ٢ ط: زمزم أَنَّ الْأَصَحَّ أَنَّهُ لَوْ جَمَعَ بِأَهْلِهِ لَا يُكْرَهُ وَيَنَالُ فَضِيلَةَ الْجَمَاعَةِ لَكِنَّ جَمَاعَةَ الْمَسْجِدِ أَفْضَلُ. شامي ص ٣٩٦ ج ١ ط: سعيد
[ii] قَالَ: وَذَهَبَ الْبَاقُونَ مِنْهُمْ إِلَى أَنَّهُ سُنَّةٌ ; وَهُوَ مَذْهَبُ أَبِي حَنِيفَةَ وَمَالِكٍ، (والجواب ان الاحاديث المتعلقة بالباب التي تدل علي وجوبها او فرضيتها ك (لَا صَلَاةَ لِجَارِ الْمَسْجِدِ إِلَّا فِي الْمَسْجِدِ) عَلَى نَفْيِ كَمَالِهِ كما في كتب الفقه وشروح الحديث ك مرقاة و عمدة القاري…..
[iii] كُرِهَ كَقِيَامَةِ فِي صَفٍّ خَلْفَ صَفٍّ فِيهِ فُرْجَةٌ….. (قَوْلُهُ كُرِهَ) لِأَنَّ فِيهِ تَرْكًا لِإِكْمَالِ الصُّفُوفِ… (قَوْلُهُ كَقِيَامِهِ فِي صَفٍّ إلَخْ) هَلْ الْكَرَاهَةُ فِيهِ تَنْزِيهِيَّةٌ أَوْ تَحْرِيمِيَّةٌ، وَيُرْشِدُ إلَى الثَّانِي قَوْلُهُ – صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ – ” وَمَنْ قَطَعَهُ قَطَعَهُ اللَّهُ ” ط. شامي ص ٥٧٠ ج ١ ط: سعيد كتاب المسائل ص ٣٧٦-٣٧٧ ج ١ ط: دار الاشاعت
ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohsin Khan
Date: 14 Shawwal 1443 / 16 May 2022