A Single Person Standing Alone Behind the Row

Question

(1) The fuqaha’ have written that standing alone behind the row is makruh, and that it is better to pull one person back from the row in front. From which side should he pull that person — from the middle or from the centre [of the row] — or not? And where should he stand: that is, should he bring [him] behind the imam or not, or stand right where he pulled the person back from? And will the prayer of the one he pulls back not suffer any harm? (2)

Answer

(1) If one row has been completed and after that some worshipper arrives, he should wait a little; and if another muqtadi comes before the ruku‘, he should stand together with him. If no other worshipper has come, he should pull out of the row someone who knows this mas’ala, and both should stand in the rear row behind the place from which he pulled him (so as to minimise…

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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