Is it permissible to pray in rows parallel to the wall outside the mosque if doing so causes one to lose the orientation of the Qibla, even if its correct direction is known?
Worshippers are not permitted to deviate from the Qiblah. If the wall or the mosque is misaligned, they should not follow this misalignment. Instead, it must be emphasized that deliberate deviation invalidates the prayer if the deviation is significant. However, if the deviation is slight, such as facing southeast or northeast, and this becomes apparent during the prayer, then one should adjust to face the Qiblah and continue the prayer from where they left off, without needing to repeat it. A significant, deliberate deviation invalidates the prayer because it constitutes an intentional abandonment of one of its conditions.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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