Placing a Person Between the Imam and the Minbar

Question

During the Friday prayer a row stands on the imam’s left, and a row also stands on the right of the minbar; the imam stands in the mihrab. The imam places one person on [his] right: on this person’s right side the minbar is directly adjacent, and on his left is the imam, ahead [of him] at a distance, and on the imam’s left stands a row. May one person be made to stand alone as a follower on the imam’s right and the minbar’s left? And is this person’s prayer valid or not?

Answer

It is not necessary to place a person between the imam and the minbar. If that spot remains empty, there is no harm in that either. And if he was placed there, no one else’s prayer was disturbed on that account — everyone’s prayer is valid; no dispute should be made [over it].

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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