Praying Alone Behind the Row and the Ruling on Pulling Someone from the Row
Source: Aḥkām wa Masā’il, Discussion on Ṣalāh, Volume 1, Page 138
❖ Question
A man comes to the mosque for Salah while the first row has already been completed. He prays alone behind the row, although the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"No person should pray alone behind the row."
(Meaning as reported in Sunan Ibn Mājah and others)
In such a case, when the congregation is ongoing and he is standing alone behind the row, is it permissible for him to pull someone from the front row to stand with him?
If not permissible, should he still pray alone behind the row or refrain?
❖ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā Baʿd!
We find guidance in several Aḥādīth regarding this matter. Some important ones are mentioned below:
➊ Guidance on Arranging the Rows
Ḥadīth from Sunan Abī Dāwūd:
«قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اﷲ ﷺ اَتِمُّوْا الصَّفَّ الْمُقَدَّمَ ، ثُمَّ الَّذِیْ یَلِیْہِ ، فَمَا کَانَ مِنْ نَقْصٍ فَلْیَکُنْ فِی الصَّفِّ الْمُؤَخَّرِ»
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Bāb Taswiyat al-Ṣufūf)
"Complete the front row, then the one that follows it, and whatever deficiency remains should be in the last row."
In light of this, if the first row is filled, the one who comes should place himself behind it.
➋ Ruling on the One Who Prays Alone Behind the Row
Ḥadīth from Abū Dāwūd, Tirmidhī, and Musnad Aḥmad:
«رَأٰی رَسُوْلُ اﷲِﷺ رَجُلاً یُصَلِّیْ خَلْفَ الصَّفِّ وَحْدَہٗ فَاَمَرَہٗ اَنْ یُعِیْدَ الصَّلٰوۃَ»
(Abū Dāwūd, Abwāb al-Ṣufūf, Bāb al-Rajul Yuṣallī Waḥdahu Khalf al-Ṣaff)
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ saw a man praying alone behind the row, and he ordered him to repeat the prayer."
Therefore, if one prays alone behind the row and no one joins him, he is required to repeat the Salah after the Imam finishes.
➌ Ruling on Pulling Someone from the First Row
Some argue that it is permissible to pull someone from the first row to stand with them, but this is not authentically established from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
The incident of moving a worshipper from the right side of the Imam to behind him cannot be used as proof here, because the case is different.
➍ Conclusion
❖ If a person comes during the congregation and finds the first row full, he should stand alone behind the row.
❖ If another worshipper arrives and joins him, it is valid. Otherwise, he must repeat his prayer after the Imam’s salām.
❖ Pulling someone from the front row is not permissible, as there is no authentic evidence from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to support it.
"ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب"
