Back to search
The question

Is it more correct for a worshiper, upon joining a prayer with an Imam and one other congregant, to ask the congregant to step back before joining the prayer, or to join the prayer and then alert the congregant to step back?

Share this answer

Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 20261 min readAlso available in العربية
The answer

If a worshiper finds an Imam and another worshiper (Ma'mum), he should make the opening takbir behind the Imam, then pull the Ma'mum towards him. This is the correct approach, based on the of Jabir in Muslim, where the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, turned Jabir and then Jabbar to stand them behind him. As for those who believe in making the opening takbir to the left of the Imam first, or asking the Imam to step forward, they have deviated from the correct approach. This is because the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, did not approve of someone making the opening takbir beside him; instead, he pushed him backward. The Companions understood from his action what was correct, as narrated about Ibn Umar with Umar ibn Al-Khattab. The disagreement here is concerning what is more complete and preferable, but the prayer is valid in all cases.

Summary from Ftawy's records · added here

Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.

Read the full answer on Ftawy
Where this answer came from
Source platform
Ftawy
Original fatwa ID
32353
Added here
. This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
Text
Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full ruling
Read the full answer on Ftawy