Issues pertaining to the Breaking of the Saff (row) in Salah

Question:

I, (meaning Huzoor Taajush Shari’ah) have been telephonically asked if a Saff (row) for Salaah is
made to the left and to the right of the Mimbar breaks the Saff (Qatee-Saff)?

Answer:

Firstly, I deem it appropriate to quote a few words from the Fatawa of A’la Hadrat, Imaam Ahmad
Raza Khan (Radi Allahu Anhu) as an introduction to this matter. Ala Hadrat (Radi Allahu Anhu)
states: “Regarding the Saffs, there are three things which have been commanded and stressed by
the Shari’ah. However, all three are nearly extinct (Ma’zallah) in the current time. This is the reason
why disunion is rampant amongst Muslims."

The first thing asserted and ordered by the Shari’ah is Taswiya (leveling). The Saff should
be straight. It should not have a gap or be crooked and the Muqtadis should stand together in a
straight line. Their necks, shoulders and ankles must all be equally proportioned in the Saff. The
chests of the Muqtadis must be straight and still, like pillars facing the direction of the Holy Qibla.
The Holy Prophet (Sallal Laahu Alayhi Wasallam) has said, “O servants of Allah! Make your Saffs
straight or Allah shall allow disunion to set amongst you.” This was said when
Rasoolullah (Sallal Laahu Alayhi Wasallam) saw the chest of a person sticking out in
front of the other Muqtadis. (Reported by Muslim).

In another Sahih Hadeeth, Rasoolullah (Sallal Laahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, “Keep your Saffs tightly
together and necks in one line. Oath on He in Whose control lies my life, I see the Shayateen
entering through the gaps in the Saff, as if they were hurled away.” (Reported by Nasaai).

In a third tradition, he is reported to have stated, “Straighten the Saffs because straight Saffs
resemble the Saffs of the Angels. Keep your shoulders against each other also.” (Reported by
Ahmed, Abu Dawood, Tibraani, etc.)
The second is Itmaam (Completion). This means that until and unless one Saff is filled, another
must not be made. The degree of importance the Shari’ah gives to this can be ascertained from the
following rule. If a person leaves a Saff incomplete whilst there was space for others in it and makes
rows behind this incomplete Saff. Should someone who comes later, sees the incompletion in the
Saff then He can walk in front of the rows (behind this saff) to get to and complete the Saff in the
front. The person who left the Saff incomplete has abandoned his veneration by acting against the
Shari’ah. He who completes the Saff in this manner will be forgiven by Allah. The Holy Prophet
(Sallal Laahu Alayhi Wasallam) has said: “Why don’t you make Saffs like the Saffs of the Angels
before their Rabb?” The Sahabah asked, “Ya Rasoolallah (Sallal Laahu Alayhi Wasallam)! How do the
Angels make Saffs?” He replied, “They fill and complete the foremost Saffs first and stand tightly
together side by side.” (Reported by Muslim, Abu Dawood, Nasaai, etc.)

He (Sallal Laahu Alayhi Wasallam) also states, “Fill the foremost Saff first and then the one next to
it. Any defect (ie. incompletion) should be left in the last Saff.” (Ahmed, Abu Dawood, etc.)

Rasoolullah (Sallal Laahu Alayhi Wasallam) states, “Allah completes the person who joins to fill a
Saff and destroys the person who breaks a Saff.” (Nasaai, Haakim)

Another Hadith states, “The person who sees a gap in a Saff should fill it himself. If he doesn’t and
another person comes, the latter should walk over the former’s head to fill the gap because no
respect remains for him (due to not filling the gap in the Saff).” (Musnadul-Firdaus).

The Holy Prophet (Sallal Laahu Alayhi Wasallam) is also reported to have said, “Verily, Allah and His
Angels send salutations on those who fill and join Saffs. Allah elevates the rank in Jannah of the
person who fills a gap in the Saff by this action of completing the Saff.” (Ahmed, Ibn Majah, Ibn
Hibban, Haakim).

The third is Taraas (Agglutination). This means to stand firmly together with the shoulders
against each other without any gap. Allah states:“A Saff as if they were an enforced wall.”
(Surah Saff, Verse 4).

When tin is melted and poured over something, all gaps are filled by it. (This is how Saffs must be
formed). Allah keeps those who make Saffs like this, as friends. The Ahadeeth commanding this
have already been presented above. Rasoolullah (Sallal Laahu Alayhi Wasallam) has said, “Make
your Saffs straight and stand firmly together because I see you even from behind my back.”
(Bukhari)

This Agglutination is also included in the completion of Saffs and all of these three things (Taswiya,
Itmaam and Taraas) are Wajib (compulsory) according to the Shari’ah.

I say, it is obvious that if a Saff is formed to the left and right of the Mimbar, the Itmaam and
Taraas which must be observed in Saffs that are highly emphasized and desired by the Shari’ah will
not be acted upon. It is also possible for the leveling of the Saff (Taswiya) to also be lost. Rather
through a little concentration, it is apparent that Taswiya in standing becomes lost even if people
from both sides stand in one line. This is because if a Mimbar interrupts, neither is standing straight
true according to Urf (convention) nor is it established according to the Shari’ah. If they don’t stand
in one direction, Taswiya of the Saff becomes totally non-existent. Therefore, to unnecessarily form
Saffs to the left and right of the Mimbar is contrary to these Saheeh Ahadeeth and impermissible
according to the Shari’ah. In this situation, the offence of committing something disliked (Makrooh)
is not only on those of the incomplete Saff, but also on those who formed Saffs behind them.

Absolute Karaahat refers to prohibited dislike (Makrooh-e-Tahrimi).

Under the above extract of Durr-e-Mukhtar, Tahtaawi and then Allamah Shaami states,
The fourth defect in this situation (forming a Saff to the left and right of the Mimbar) is
that the Imaam will not be at the centre of the Saff whereas it is a requirement of the Shari’ah for
the Imaam to stand at the middle of the Saff. (Refer to Fatawa Razvia, Vol. 3, Pg 149)

[Translator’s note: At this point Huzoor Taajush Shariah’s verdict turned to an I’lmi discussion. This
is more suited for the Ulema fraternity, not the general public. Hence, I have not included it in the
translation].

Dictated by Huzoor Taajush Shari’ah, Allama Mohammed Akhtar Raza Qadiri Azhari.

Certified by:

Qaadhi Muhammad Abdur Rahim Bastawi

Qaadhi Muhammad Shaheed Aalam
Mufti Muhammad Muzzafar Hussain Qadiri
Mufti Muhammad Naazim Ali Qadiri

Transcribed by:
Moulana Muhammad Yunus Raza Owaisi Razvi
Markazi Darul Ifta, 82 Saudagraan, Bareilly Shareef
2 Zil Hijjah 1422 A.H

Source (Fataawa Bareilly Shareef - Markazi Darul Ifta Bareilly)