Fatwaa ID: 510
Question:
السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته
Some people leave their tasbeehs or personal belongings well before the prayer (sometimes even between them) to “reserve” a place to pray behind the imam, and then come just before the iqama. Is such a thing permissible, and do they get the reward of praying behind the imam?
جزاك الله خيرا
Answer:
In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salaamu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullaahi wa-barakaatuh.
Each and every spot in the masjid besides the imaam’s spot is open to anyone and everyone. No spot may be reserved. One should not place his tasbeeh or personal items to hold a spot and then leave. If one wishes to sit at a certain spot, then he should come early and remain seated there, awaiting the salaah. It is a different case that the person was already sitting there but had to leave to quickly relieve himself or attend to some immediate need. In such a case, he is entitled to that spot when he returns. He may leave something there indicating that he was sitting there.
And Allaah Ta’aala knows best.
Mufti Muajul I. Chowdhury
Darul Iftaa New York
https://askthemufti.us/
07/11/1444 AH – 02/02/2023 AH |AMG3-3292
وصل اللهم وسلم وبارك على سيدنا محمد وعلى ءاله وصحبه أجمعين
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