The ruling on walking during the prayer

Question

An imam is leading the prayer with his followers in the courtyard of the mosque, and while they are in this state it begins to rain. In such a case, are the imam and the followers permitted, while still within the prayer, to walk far enough to enter the covered hall of the mosque and take shelter from the rain? Please give a detailed and reasoned answer.

Answer

If the covered hall is three paces away from the courtyard of the mosque and they reach it by walking continuously, without pausing in between, the prayer becomes fasid (invalid). If they take one step and then stand still for the length of one pillar (rukn), then walk, then stand still again, and reach it in this way, the prayer will not be invalidated.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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