Ruling on Standing Next to a Person with Bad Odor During Prayer
Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil – Bāb al-Ṣalāh, Vol. 1, p. 170
Question:
If a person is already engaged in prayer and another person joins the row beside him, but that new person has a bad odor which causes discomfort to the one already praying—can the first person break his prayer and move to another row?
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
No, this is not correct. It is not permissible to break one’s prayer in such a case.
The proper course is to complete the prayer, and afterwards, with gentleness, kindness, and good manners, advise that person so that in the future he avoids coming to the mosque or to prayer in such a condition that causes discomfort to others.
Hādhā mā ʿindī, wallāhu aʿlam bi-ṣ-ṣawāb.
