Table of Contents

• Summaries of Different Opinions of the Four Schools
• Intentionally Praying Individually is Disliked
• How to Avoid Praying Individually
• Hanafi Opinion
• Maliki Opinion
• Shafii Opinion
• Hanbali Opinion
• Excerpt from Ibn Qudamah's al-Mughni
• 1163 Salah Should Be Repeated By the One Who Stands By Himself Behind the Row or Stood Next to the Imam To His Left
• 1166 When a Follower Joins The Salah

Summaries of Different Opinions of the Four Schools

Source: islamweb.net Fatwa 14806

Intentionally Praying Individually is Disliked

Praying individually behind the rows without excuse is valid but disliked, and the dislike is removed in the presence of an excuse. This is the opinion of the majority of jurists: the Hanafis, the Malikis, and the Shafiis. al-Kasani, who is a Hanafi, said in his book badai' al-sanai': "Praying individually behind the row is only disliked if there is space in the row. But if there is no space, then it is not disliked because the situation is one of excuse."

al-Dasuqi, who is a Maliki, said in his commentary on al-sharh al-kabir: "It is permissible to pray individually behind a row if it is difficult for him to join it; otherwise, it is disliked. However, he still attains the virtue of congregational prayer absolutely." al-Nawawi, who is a Shafii, said in al-Majmu: "If someone prays individually behind the row while being able to join it, it is disliked, but his prayer is valid." End quote.

The majority of scholars have stated that the hadith of Abu Bakrah (Bukhari 783) indicates the non-obligation of repeating the prayer. Therefore, the matter mentioned in the hadith of Abu Sa'id al-Khudri regarding repetition is only for recommendation, reconciling between the two evidences.

How to Avoid Praying Individually

As for explaining how the follower should act to avoid praying individually behind the row, it is as follows:

If someone enters the mosque and finds the congregational prayer has already started, and there is space in the last row, they should stand there. If the space is in a forward row, they are allowed to pass through the rows to reach it to shorten the gaps left by those who preceded them in prayer.

If no space is found in any row, scholars have differed regarding what should be done in that case:

Hanafi Opinion

In al-Kasani's badāiʿ al-ṣanāiʿ, he states:

• It is preferable for one who enters the mosque to wait for someone to enter and stand with them behind the row.
• If they find no one and fear missing the rakʿah, they should pull someone known for their knowledge and character to stand with them.
• If they still find no one, they should stand behind the Imam's shoes, and there is no dislike in that because the situation is one of excuse.

Maliki Opinion

• If one cannot join the row, they should pray individually without pulling anyone from the row.
• If someone is pulled, it is upon the person pulled not to obey.

Shafii Opinion

According to the correct opinion among the Shafi'is:

• If one finds no space and no room, it is recommended for them to pull someone from the row to stand with them, but with the condition that the one pulled agrees.
• They should not pull anyone to avoid causing discord.
• If someone is pulled, it is recommended for the one pulled to help them, so they can attain the reward of mutual assistance in righteousness and piety.

Hanbali Opinion

• If one cannot find a place in the row, they should stand to the right of the Imam if possible.
• If they are unable to stand to the right of the Imam, they are permitted to alert someone from the row to stand with them, using either speech, gesture, or by signaling. The person alerted should then follow through and make room for them.
• They dislike forcefully pulling someone to alert them.

al-Buhuti clarifies the Hanbali doctrine in his book "Sharh Muntaha al-Iradat":

• If one cannot find a space and the rows are tightly packed, they should stand to the right of the Imam if possible, because this is the position of an individual.
• If not, they are permitted to alert someone by gesture or speech, as in the statement: "Let one of you make room for me to stand beside him in the row," or they can signal to someone standing in the row to make space for them to join. If someone is alerted, they must follow through by making space for them, as fulfilling the obligation depends on this action.
• It is disliked to pull them forcefully, as this would be an action without their consent. Their slave and son are treated as strangers in this matter and are not prohibited. In fact, it is affirmed in Al-Mughni that it is permissible to call them for a need, similar to prostrating on someone's back or foot to make space. That concludes the explanation.

Excerpt from Ibn Qudamah's al-Mughni

1163 Salah Should Be Repeated By the One Who Stands By Himself Behind the Row or Stood Next to the Imam To His Left

In short, if someone prays a complete rakah alone, their prayer is not valid. This is the opinion of al-Nakha'i, al-Hakam, al-Hasan b. Salih, Ishaq, and Ibn al-Mundhir. al-Hasan, Malik, al-Awza'i, al-Shafi'i, and the people of opinion (Hanafis) permit it because Abu Bakrah prayed outside the row, and the Prophet ﷺ did not command him to repeat it. Additionally, because it is the position for women, it is also valid for men, just as it would be if they were with a congregation.

And according to us, we have what Wabisah b. Ma'bad narrated, "The Prophet ﷺ saw a man praying alone behind the rows and ordered him to repeat it." (Abu Dawud 682) This was narrated by Abu Dawud and others. Ahmad stated: "The hadith of Wabisah is Hasan (good)." Ibn al-Mundhir said: "Ahmad and Ishaq confirmed the authenticity of the hadith."

Another narration states, "The Prophet ﷺ was asked about a man who prayed behind the rows alone. He said: "He should repeat it." This was narrated by Tammam in al-fawa'id.

Ali b. Shayban reported, "The Prophet of Allah ﷺ prayed with them, and after he finished, a man stood alone behind the rows. The Prophet ﷺ waited until the man finished, then said: "Face ˹again for˺ your prayer, for there is no prayer for a person standing alone behind the row." (Ibn Majah 1003) This was narrated by al-Athram. And he said: I asked Abu Abdullah: Is the hadith of Mulazim b. Amr (meaning this hadith as well) is Hasan? He said: "Yes, because he went against the established position so his prayer was not valid, just as if he stood in front of the Imam."

As for the hadith of Abu Bakrah, the Prophet ﷺ prohibited him and said: "Do not repeat it." (Bukhari 783) The prohibition implies invalidity, and his excuse for what he did is due to his ignorance of its prohibition. Ignorance has an effect in pardoning, and it is not necessary for it to be a stance for a woman as it is for a man, evidenced by their difference regarding the dislike and recommendation of standing.

As for if one stands to the left of the Imam and someone is standing to the right of the Imam, their prayer is valid. Ibn Masud prayed between al-Aqamah and al-Aswad, and when they finished, he said: "This is how I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ doing." (Abu Dawud 613) This was narrated by Abu Dawud. This is because the middle of the row is reserved for the Imam concerning women and unclothed individuals, if there is no one standing to his right, then the prayer of the one who stands to his left is invalid, whether they are alone or in a group. Most scholars hold that it is preferable for the individual follower to stand to the right of the Imam, and if they stand to his left, they are opposing the Sunnah.

It was narrated that Sa'id b. al-Musayyib used to place the single follower, if there was only one, to his left. Malik, al-Shafii, and the proponents of opinion stated that if one stands to the left of the Imam, their prayer is valid. This is because when Ibn Abbas started his prayer to be to the left of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ he turned him around to his right side and the initial takbirat al-tahrimah of the prayer was not invalidated. If this had not been the established position, his he would have to restart his prayer with another takbirat al-tahrimah...

According to us Ibn Abbas said, "The Prophet ﷺ stood to pray at night. I came and stood to his left. He took me by my hand and moved me to his right." (Bukhari 5919) This narration is agreed upon. Jabir also reported, "The Prophet ﷺ stood to pray. I came and stood to his left. He moved me to his right." (Abu Dawud 634) This was narrated by Abu Dawud. Their statement is that he did not instruct him to restart the prayer...

1166 When a Follower Joins The Salah

When there is only one male follower, the Sunnah is for him to stand to the right of the Imam, whether he is a man or a boy, based on the hadith narrated by Ibn Abbas and Anas. Jabir b. Abdullah reported: "I accompanied the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in a military expedition. He stood up for prayer, so I performed ablution and then I came until I stood to the left of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He took my hand and turned me around until he made me stand to his right. Jabbar b. Sakhr came until he stood to his left, and then he took both of us by hand until he made us stand behind him." (Muslim 3006) This hadith is narrated by Muslim and Abu Dawud. If they are three, the Imam advances and the two followers stand behind him. This is the opinion of Umar, Ali, Jabir ibn Zaid, Al-Hasan, Ata, Shafii, and the People of Opinion (Hanafis).