Rows of Unequal Length When Observing the Qibla Direction

Question

There is a building in which the prayer is performed in congregation, but because of [the shape of] the building the rows are laid out in unequal lengths — some shorter, some longer. May the congregational prayer and the Jumu‘a be performed in this way or not? For example: [Diagram: a rectangle representing the building, with the rows drawn inside it as parallel slanting lines running diagonally — short near the corners and long in the middle; in the upper right corner is the label “direction of the Ka‘ba”.

Answer

It is not necessary for the rows to follow the orientation of the building; the rows should be formed facing the direction of the qibla, even if some of them become shorter and some longer. The five daily prayers are valid [in this way]. If everyone there is permitted to join the prayer and there is no obstruction, then the Jumu‘a there is valid as well.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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