FatwaFederal TerritoriesPrayer (Salah)
AL-KAFI #1527: HUKUM KEDUDUKAN SOLAT MAKMUM DI HADAPAN IMAM
Is congregational prayer valid if the worshippers on the lower floor of a mosque stand in front of the imam who is on the upper floor?
Short answer
A follower must stand behind the imam, and the prayer of a follower who stands ahead of the imam's position is invalid and must be repeated.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Federal Territories Mufti Office
- Date
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Al-Kafi li al-Fatawi
- Topic
- Prayer (Salah)
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
A follower must stand behind the imam, and the prayer of a follower who stands ahead of the imam's position is invalid and must be repeated. Position is judged by the heels: if the follower's heel is ahead of the imam's toes, the prayer is not valid. If the lower level is larger, the fatwa advises the imam to move to the lower level so that no follower is ahead of him.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Sebagai kesimpulan kami menyatakan bahawa wajib bagi makmum untuk berada di belakang imam.
Read the full fatwa on the Federal Territories website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Federal Territories Mufti Office. “AL-KAFI #1527: HUKUM KEDUDUKAN SOLAT MAKMUM DI HADAPAN IMAM”, 14 January 2020. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/al-kafi-li-al-fatawi/3988-al-kafi-1527-hukum-kedudukan-solat-makmum-di-hadapan-imam. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/ruling-follower-standing-in-front-of-imam-two-storey-mosque/