Where a Second Muqtadi Should Stand When He Arrives After the First

Question

[There is] an imam and one muqtadi on his right, and both are in ruku‘. Another worshipper arrives. Now either this worshipper loses a rak‘a, or he stands on the imam’s left. What is the ruling? If he stands on the imam’s left, should the imam move forward after the ruku‘ if there is room? Otherwise, should the muqtadis shift back?

Answer

If there is one muqtadi with the imam, standing on the imam’s right, and then another muqtadi comes and joins, it is correct for the imam to move forward; it is also correct for [the imam] to signal the muqtadi to move back; and it is also correct for the latecomer himself to move the first one back.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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