The Imam Only a Few Inches Ahead of the Followers Due to Lack of Space

Question

The mosque has no mihrab, and the imam stands on [the line of] the row, and on Fridays there is a shortage of space. So the imam moves two to four inches forward, while the followers are on that same row, so that the imam ends up in the middle. Is it permissible to do this? If it is permissible, references from the books are urgently needed. If it is not permissible, then why? And in the case of lack of space, will this congregation be like [the congregation] of women or not?

Answer

The imam ought to stand ahead of the followers. However, if the worshippers are many and the space is tight, and for that reason he is only a few inches ahead of the followers, that too is sufficient. This excuse is recognised by the Shari‘a — just as in a crush those in the rear row may prostrate on the backs of those in the front row.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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