Is it permissible for the Imam to stand at the far left of the prayer area while the congregants stand to his right, aligned with him, or is it more correct for him to stand in their middle and slightly ahead of them?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
The is for the Imam to stand in front of the congregants, and for the congregants to stand behind him. If the congregants pray to the right of the Imam, their prayer is valid, even though their standing behind him is better. It is permissible for the congregants to stand to his right or on his sides. Standing behind the Imam is the best, then on his sides, then only to his right. If the place is narrow and the Imam cannot stand forward, then there is no harm in him being in the middle of the row.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/12526
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 12526
- 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