In the Name of Allah

All praises be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds; and may the peace and blessings of Allah be on our Prophet, Muhammad, his followers, and all his companions.

To proceed,

From the calamities which have appeared in these days, which the Muslims have been afflicted with, is the spread of the pandemic “Corona”. Doctors and specialists have advised separation of the people with a meter’s distance.

While the Masajid have opened in the majority of the lands, many have asked about the ruling on standing a distance apart during prayer. Below is an explanation.

 The First Matter: Texts Related to Filling the Rows and Closing the Gaps

Filling up the rows, closing the gaps, and completing each row one by one were taught when prayer was first legislated.

Hadith of Anas

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

❝Complete the first row, then the one behind it, and if any row is to be left incomplete let it be the last row.❞
Narrated by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, and an-Nasa’i.

From Abu Dawud:

❝Complete the front row, then the one that comes next, and if there is any incompleteness, let it be in the last row.❞
(Authenticated by al-Albani)

Hadith of Ibn Umar

The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

❝Set the rows in order, stand shoulder to shoulder, close the gaps, be pliant in the hands of your brethren, and do not leave openings for the devil. If anyone joins up a row, Allah will join him up, but if anyone breaks a row, Allah will cut him off.❞

Hadith of Anas

The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

❝Stand close together in your rows, bring them near one another, and stand neck to neck… I see the devil coming through openings in the row like a small black sheep.❞

Meaning of Coming Close and Straightening the Rows

As-Sindhi رحمه الله

On “Stand close together”: explanation of physical closeness.

An-Nawawi رحمه الله

Straightening the rows includes:

• fixing each row properly

• closing the gaps

• standing next to each other

• not stepping ahead of the person next to you

• not beginning a second row before finishing the first

(Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā)

Ibn ʿAbdil-Barr رحمه الله

• Fixing the rows is agreed upon

• Narrations are mutawātir (mass-transmitted)

• The Caliphs acted upon it

(Al-Istidhkār)

 The Second Matter: Ruling on Straightening the Rows

There are two scholarly opinions:

1. Straightening the Rows Is Sunnah (Majority Opinion)

Accepted by all four madhāhib:

• Hanafis – Tabayyin al-Haqā’iq, Hashiyat al-Tahtawi

• Malikis – Al-Tanbīh, Al-Fawāqih ad-Dawānī

• Shafiʿis – Al-Majmūʿ, Mahaj al-Qawīm

• Hanbalis – Al-Insāf, Kashf al-Qināʿ

Based on narrations:

❝Straighten your rows and stand closer together, for I see you from behind my back.❞
(Bukhari & Muslim)

❝Straighten your rows, for straightening rows is essential for the perfection of prayer.❞
(Bukhari)

2. Straightening the Rows Is Obligatory

Held by:

• Ibn Hazm

• Ibn Taymiyyah

• Ibn Hajar

• Al-Qadhi Abu Bakr ibn al-ʿArabi

Based on:

❝Make your rows straight or Allah will cause discord among you.❞
(Muslim)

 The Third Matter: Does Separation Invalidate the Prayer?

Scholars held two opinions:

1. The prayer is valid

This is the opinion of the majority.

2. The prayer is invalid

Attributed to:

• some Hanbalis

• Ibn Hazm

• Ibn Muflih

Preferred Opinion (Rājiḥ): The Prayer Is Valid

All four madhāhib agree:

• Straightening rows is Sunnah, not a pillar

• A separation does NOT invalidate the prayer

• But it is disliked (makrūh)

Ibn Hajar رحمه الله said:

Even when Anas criticized misalignment, he did not command people to repeat the prayer, showing validity.

 The Fourth Matter: Ruling on Separation of the Rows Due to Fear of Disease

Allah says:

﴿فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ فَرِجَالًا أَوْ رُكْبَانًا…﴾
(Al-Baqarah 239)

Meaning:
In cases of fear, one adapts the prayer as necessary.

Fiqh Principle

Necessity permits what is normally not allowed.

Classical Maliki References Supporting Distancing

Ibn Abi Zayd al-Qayrawani

Permitted spaced-out prayer to protect property (horses).

Imam Malik

Permitted praying under shade with distance between people when heat was severe.

Umar ibn al-Khattab

Prayed on his garment due to extreme heat.

Ibn Habib

Reported that Malik allowed a scholar to pray distantly from his students.

Action of the Salaf

Umar told Mu’iqib (who had leprosy):

❝Sit from me a limit of a spear.❞

All praises be to Allah.