FatwaFederal TerritoriesPrayer (Salah)
AL KAFI #912 : SIAPAKAH YANG SEPATUTNYA MENGISI KEKOSONGAN SAF
Who should fill a gap in the prayer row: worshippers from the row behind, or those beside it on the left or right?
Short answer
When a row is not yet full because few people are present, the imam stands in the middle and followers fill the space behind him on both sides, with the right side preferred as a recommended act.
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
When a row is not yet full because few people are present, the imam stands in the middle and followers fill the space behind him on both sides, with the right side preferred as a recommended act. When a full row develops a gap, it must be filled and not left empty. A worshipper in the same row should fill it by shifting from the left or right if nobody from behind is filling it. A worshipper in a row behind who sees a gap ahead should hurry to fill it.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Sekiranya makmum yang berada di dalam saf yang sama melihat tidak ada orang dari belakang yang mengisi kekosongan saf tersebut, hendaklah dia memenuhkannya sama ada dengan bergerak dari arah kiri ke kanan, atau dari arah kanan ke kiri.
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 #912 : SIAPAKAH YANG SEPATUTNYA MENGISI KEKOSONGAN SAF”, 22 November 2018. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/al-kafi-li-al-fatawi/2794-al-kafi-912-siapakah-yang-sepatutnya-mengisi-kekosongan-saf. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/who-should-fill-gaps-in-prayer-row/