Is it permissible for a man to choose one particular spot in the mosque to pray all obligatory prayers therein consistently and insistently, while changing his spot for supererogatory prayers?
It is prohibited to habitually pray in a specific spot in the mosque, just as a camel habitually lies down in a particular place. This prohibition is against habitually praying in a specific spot in the mosque where one prays nowhere else. The wisdom behind this prohibition is to avoid seeking fame and showing off (riyaa'), and to increase the number of places where one worships. Some scholars have pointed out the weakness of the aforementioned hadith regarding this prohibition, and it is contradicted by the hadith of Salamah ibn al-Akwa' in the Sahihayn. Some scholars interpreted Salamah's hadith as referring to supererogatory (nafl) prayers, and the hadith of prohibition as referring to habitually performing both obligatory (fard) and supererogatory prayers in one place. The followers of Imam Ahmad interpreted the hadith of prohibition as referring to obligatory prayers and the hadith of permission as referring to supererogatory prayers. Therefore, one should avoid habitually praying in a specific spot for obligatory prayers, out of fear of falling into the prohibited act, to increase the number of places where one prays, to distance oneself from showing off, and to attain the virtue of praying in preferred places, such as the first row.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/115948