- EN (English)
Fatwa ID: | 87768 |
Title: | Praying in semi-attached building to main musallah |
Category: | Prayer |
Scholar: | AMJA Resident Fatwa Committee |
Date: | 03/03/2021 |
Our masjid has a main Musallah area, and behind that the sisters area. We also have a semi-attached building which is accessible through the main musallah but off to the right of it. If you were to walk from the musallah to this building you have to make a left turn, walk 4-5 feet, then turn right and walk another 7-8 feet, and then turn left to enter the attached building. (The two buildings are technically connected by a hallway area which is where the bathrooms and wudhu area is for the brothers. The question was raised if we can pray in the attached area with following Imam for jumua or taraweeh for example. The whole attached building is behind the imam, but far to the right of the imam.
(The yellow outlined building is the main musallah, the pink outline is the hallway connecting the two buildings, and the green is the attached building in question. The star is the position of the Imam.
Some backstory, the community had been using that space for the last 15 years or so for such prayers. Recently a concern was raised that it wasn't acceptable to pray in that space due to it being disconnected and cut off from the jama'a. During covid this put a larger strain on us since we lose about 20 spaces for people to pray if we don't use that space. I understand the reason for concern from a fiqh perspective but am not sure if there are different opinions on the issue that might help in these circumstances. One suggestion I had was maybe to have people spaced out in the pink space and leading into the building so they're no disconnect from that perspective, but given that the people in that building will basically be parrellel to people in the 3rd or 4th line of the main musallah while the imam is far to their left, I don't know if that's an acceptable alternative anyways.
Also, just to clarify, those praying in the attached building can hear and see the Imam with speakers and tv's in use, but not otherwise.
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Grantor of Mercy
All praise is due to Allah, and may His peace and blessings be upon His final prophet and messenger. To proceed:
Contemporary scholars have differed over whether or not the rulings of the masjid are to be given to classrooms, offices, and the like which are attached to the masjid or within the property of the masjid. This is related to the discussion amongst classical scholars regarding the rulings given to the courtyard, minaret, and roof of a masjid, as well as the room in the masjid that the ruler would pray in, land and pathways surrounding the masjid, and buildings near the masjid. Thus, rulings concerning congressional prayer, buying and selling, spiritual retreat (‘itikaf), being in the state of major ritual impurity, and the like as they relate to modern Islamic centers are important to discuss. We commend the masjid for seeking answers on the issue of congregational prayer in the room near the prayer hall.
Based on the diagram of the Islamic center that was sent to the Resident Fatwa Committee, the following has been decided:
Taking into consideration that the room in question is connected to the main prayer hall through a hallway, congregants would be allowed to pray in the other room if:
- There is a need for this;
- The congregants are able to hear and follow the imam in prayer. Make sure that audio and video are accessible to the congregants in the other room;
- The rows are connected as much as possible.
It seems from the diagram that the congregants in the room are in front of the imam. Prayer like this is an issue which the scholars have differed over. If the other room is indeed in front of the imam, the opinion that would allow prayers in this fashion due to an excuse can be taken.
And all success is found with Allah, the Exalted.