Placing a marker in the classroom before the bell rings

Question

The students of Darul Uloom Deoband commonly do this: in order to sit in the lessons, they place their marker in the classrooms even before the bell rings. By placing a marker in this way, do they acquire a right to sit in that place or not? Kindly grant an answer.

Answer

Merely by placing this marker beforehand, their right does not become binding and settled; if another student comes and sits there, he will not be sinful. However, if another place is available, it is fitting, as a matter of good manners, to refrain from upsetting the one who placed the marker.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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