Congregational Prayer - Imam > Men > Male Kids > Women > Women Children?

[Idrees]

if doing a prayer collectively at home, whats the layout or how should you stand?

is the above correct?

also what if you have 2 guys and 1 women? would it be imam at front guy near side and women behind?

Jazakallah

Wassalam

[abuhajira]

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

At the outset we wish to place on record the importance of men and male children to pray salah with jamaah at the Masjid. Ahādīth of Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam mention great rewards for those who walk towards the masjid and become the guests of none other than Allah Ta‘ālā himself. Frequenting masājid and keeping an active link to masājid will also earn us the shade of the Arsh of Allah Ta‘āla on the day of Qiyāmah when there shall be no shade at all. Moreover, if the house-hold has younger children, it is important to inculcate the position of congregational salah at Masjid in them. The best and most efficient manner of this is through practice. When these children will see their elders making an additional effort to attend Masajid then the value and honour of Masajid will enter their hearts.

That being said, if for some reason a collective jamā‘at is made then the order of salah will be as follows:

1. The order that you have mentioned is correct.[1]



Imām

|

Men

|

Male Children

|

Females

|

Female Children



2. If you have two men and woman praying in jamā‘at then Imām will stand in front and the male muqtadī (follower) will stand next him, but a step backward. The female will stand in the back. [2]



Imam

---------Man

|

Female



3. Ensure that the women are maharim (such women with whom nikah is prohibited eg mother, sister, etc).


And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Mufti Faisal bin Abdul Hameed,
Montréal, Canada

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.




[1] فيقدم الأحرار البالغون ثم صبيانهم، ثم العبيد البالغون ثم صبيانهم، ثم الأحرار الخناثي الكبار ثم صغارهم، ثم الأرقاء الخناثي الكبار ثم صغارهم، ثم الحرائر الكبار ثم صغارهن، ثم الإماء الكبار ثم صغارهن كما في الحلية (الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) (1/ 571))

[2] (قوله أما الواحدة فتتأخر) فلو كان معه رجل أيضا يقيمه عن يمينه والمرأة خلفهما (الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) (1/ 566))