Part 21

Delay: That he lags behind his Imam so much that he is not considered to be following him, and this contradicts what is prescribed.

") Reported by Al-Bukhari in the Book of Shortening the Prayers, in the Chapter: The Prayer of the Sitting Person (1114).

Fatawa Arkanul-Islam 536 ey! OS yh oghd

Q. 306. Is prayer behind a sinner valid?

A. Prayer behind a Muslim even if he commits some sins_ is permissible and valid, according to the most authoritative opinion, but prayer behind one who is righteous is preferable without doubt.

However, if the person does things which remove him from the pale of Islam, then it is not permissible to pray behind him. This is because his prayer is not valid, for the prayer of anyone who is not a Muslim is invalid, and if the prayer of the Imam is invalid, then it is not possible to follow him, because you are following one who is not an Imam, and you are making the intention of Imamate without an Imam.

Q. 307. Is it permissible for one who is offering an obligatory prayer to do so behind one who is offering a voluntary prayer and for the one who is offering a voluntary to do so behind one who is offering an obligatory prayer?

A. It is permissible to do that, just as it is permissible to offer the Zuhr prayer behind an Imam who is offering the ‘Asr prayer, and to offer the ‘Asr prayer behind an Imam who is offering the Zuhr prayer. This is because every person shall have what he intended, which is why Imam Ahmad said: If you entered while the Imam is performing the Tarawih prayer and you have not offered the ‘Isha’ prayer, then pray behind him, for it will be an obligatory prayer for you and a voluntary prayer for him.

Q. 308. A discussion occurred between a group of worshippers, regarding the case of a man who entered the Masjid late and found that the prayer had already begun. The row was full and there was no place for him in the row, is it permissible for him to pull a man from that complete row, in order to be able to offer his prayer?

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Or should he pray behind the row by himself? Or what should he do?

A. This question has three possible modes of action: If a person comes and finds that the row has been completed:

Either he prays alone behind the row, or he pulls a person from the row and prays with him, or he goes forward and prays on the tight side of the Imam. These three possible modes of action are if he joins the prayer, or he might leave the prayer with this congregation. So, which of these four things should be chosen?

We say: What should be chosen from these four things is that he forms a row by himself behind the row and prays with the Imam. This is because what is obligatory is prayer with the congregation and in the row. These are both obligations, and if he was unable to do one of them, and that is standing in the row, the other remains an obligation — and that is prayer in congregation. In that case, we say: Pray with the congregation behind the row in order to attain the virtue of the prayer in congregation, and standing in the row is not an obligation upon you in this case, because you are unable to do it, and Allah, the Most Glorified, the Most vet says:

“So keep your duty to rin and ae Him as much as you can.

Regarding this man who came to the Masjid and found that the row had been completed and that there was no possible way for

him to pray in the row, the obligation to do so in these circumstances is removed from him, and he is obliged to pray in congregation; so he must pray behind the row.

As for pulling someone from the row to pray with him, this should not be done, because it entails three sins:

1. Opening up a gap in the row, and this contradicts what was ordered by the Prophet #%, which is to stand close together, and close the gaps in the rows.

2. Moving this person from a superior place in the row to an inferior place, and this is a form of offence against him.

3. Disturbing him in his prayers, because if this worshipper is pulled out, it must cause some disturbance in his heart, and this is also an offence against him.

The third mode of action is that he stand with the Imam, and this is not right for him, because the Imam must stand out from those who are being led in prayer by his position, just as he stands out from them by his leading them in speech and action. He makes the Takbir before them, he bows before them, and he prostrates before them, and so it is necessary that he should stand out from them by his position. This is the guidance of the Prophet #%, that the Imam should stand in front’ those being led in prayer, and this is clearly appropriate to distinguish him from them that he stands alone in his place; so if some of the worshippers stood with him, this special characteristic which should be the Jmam’s alone in prayer will be removed from him.

As for the fourth possible mode of action, which is that he leaves the congregation, this is not an option for him either, because praying in congregation is an obligation and standing in the row is an obligation. If he was unable to do either one of them, the obligation to do the other is not removed from him, since he is unable to do the first.

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Q. 309. There is a Masjid which has two floors and those who pray on the upper floor cannot see what is below them; is their prayer valid or not? Advise us, may Allah bless you.

A. As long as the Masjid is one, then it is not a condition that they see each other, if they can hear the Takbir of the Imam. Written by Muhammad Salih Al-‘Uthaimain on 25/8/1410 A.H.

Q. 310. Is it permissible for a Muslim to pray with the prayer which is transmitted via the television or the radio, without being able to see the Imam, especially for women?

A. It is not permissible for a person to follow an Imam by means of the radio or by means of the television. This is because praying in congregation means congregating together, so it is necessary to be in one place, or for the rows to be connected to each other, so it is not permissible to pray by means of such things. This is because the aim of congregational] prayer has not been achieved by this, and if we were to permit this, it would be possible for every person to offer the five prayers in his house, indeed the Friday prayer also, and that would negate the legislation of the Friday prayer and the congregational prayers. So, based upon this, it is not permissible for women or others that they pray behind a radio or behind a television. And Allah is the Granter of success.

Fatawa Arkanul-Islam _ 540 prey! ost wots

His Eminence, the Shaikh, may Allah reward him for his services to Islam and the Muslims with the best reward, said:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. How Should the Invalid Pray?

1. Itis incumbent upon the invalid to offer the obligatory prayers standing, even if he is leaning or supporting himself against the wall or on a stick if he requires such to support himself.

2. If he is unable to stand, he may pray sitting and it is better for him to sit cross-legged in the place of standing and bowing.

3. Ifhe is unable to pray sitting, he should pray on his side, facing towards the Qiblah and the right side is better. But if he is unable to face the Qiblah, he may pray in whatever direction he is facing, and his prayer will be valid, and he is not required to repeat it.

4. If he is unable to pray lying on his side, then he may pray lying down, with his feet facing towards the Qiblah. It is better to lift his head slightly in order to face towards the Qiblah, but if itis not possible for his feet to face the Qiblah, he may pray wherever they may be facing, and it is not necessary for him to repeat it.

5. It is incumbent upon the invalid to bow and prostrate in his prayer, but if he is unable to do so, he may incline his head towards them, making the Sujud lower than the Ruku’. And if he is able to bow, but not to prostrate, he may bow at the place of Ruku‘ and indicate the Sujud. And if he is able to prostrate, but not to bow, he may prostrate at the place of Sujud and indicate the Ruku’.

6. If he is unable to incline his head in the Ruku’ and the Sujud, he may indicate with his eyes, closing them slightly for the Ruku’ and closing them more for the Sujud. As for indicating with the finger as some invalids do, it is not correct, and | know

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of no basis for it in the Book (of Allah) or the Sunnah or the sayings of the scholars.

7. If he is unable to incline his head, or to indicate with his eyes, then he may pray in his heart, making the Takbir and reciting, and making the intention of bowing, prostrating, standing and sitting in his heart (in accordance with the Hadith:)

(3b ast JN “and every person shall have what he intended.”

8. It is incumbent upon the invalid to offer every prayer at its stated time and do all of the obligations that are incumbent upon him to the best of his ability. But if it is difficult for him to perform each of the prayers at its stated time, he may combine the Zuhr and the ‘Asr prayers and the Maghrib and ‘Isha’ prayers either by advancing the second prayer, such as by advancing the ‘Asr prayer to the time of the Zuhr prayer and advancing the ‘Isha’ prayer to the time of the ‘Maghrib’ prayer, or by delaying the first, such as by delaying the Zuhr prayer to the time of the ‘Asr prayer and delaying the Maghrib prayer until the time of the ‘Isha’ prayer whichever is easier for him. As for the Fajr prayer, it may not be combined with the prayer before it, nor with the prayer after it.