❖ Ruling on Pulling Someone from the Row or Praying Alone Behind It
(Source: Fatāwā Arkān al-Islām)
Question:
If a person arrives at the mosque and finds that the congregation has already started and the row is complete, is it permissible to pull someone from the row to stand with him? Should he pray alone behind the row? Or should he adopt another method?
Answer:
Alḥamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʾAmma baʿd!
When a person arrives and the row is complete, four possible options exist:
① Pray alone behind the row.
② Pull someone from the row to stand with him.
③ Move forward to stand on the Imam’s right side.
④ Not join the congregation at all.
Preferred Option:
The most preferred and correct option is to pray alone behind the row in this situation, because:
- Congregational prayer is obligatory.
- Standing in the row is also obligatory.
- If joining the row is not possible, the obligation of standing in it drops, but the obligation of praying in congregation remains.
- Thus, praying alone behind the row still allows one to gain the reward of the congregation.
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا استَطَعتُم﴾
“So fear Allah as much as you are able.”
(Sūrah al-Taghābun, 16)
Supporting Example:
Just as a woman cannot stand in the men’s row for congregation and would pray alone behind them, the same applies to a man who finds the rows complete — he prays alone behind them.
Problems with Pulling Someone from the Row:
Pulling someone out from the row to join you causes:
- Gap in the row – The Prophet ﷺ instructed that rows should be complete with no gaps.
- Injustice to the pulled person – Moving him from a better place (in the row) to a lesser one (behind the row).
- Disturbance in his Salah – Being pulled mid-prayer causes distraction and reduces khushūʿ.
Standing Beside the Imam:
Some think it better to stand next to the Imam rather than pray alone, but this is also incorrect because:
- The Imam’s position must be distinct from the congregation.
- Just as the Imam leads in actions and words, he should be ahead in position.
- The Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ is that the Imam stands ahead of the rows.
- Standing beside him removes this distinction.
Summary:
When the row is complete and a person joins the congregation:
- ✅ Pray alone behind the row.
- ❌ Do not pull someone from the row.
- ❌ Do not stand beside the Imam.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
