Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
In the first row of my masjid, a pillar is positioned just behind the line, such that anyone standing directly in front of it, may have to stand 3-6 inches ahead of everyone else, and while in ruku, move a few more inches forward.
Does this affect the validity of one’s prayer? Would it be better to do like I mentioned above or leave a gap in the line (in front of the pillar) and stand in another part of the line where this does not happen? Jazakum Allahu Khairan!
Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,
I pray that this finds you well, and in the best of health and spirits. May Allah grant you all good and success in this life and the next.
It is sunna to keep lines straight and without gaps. It is reprehensible for a prayer line to be obviously uneven or to have gaps without excuse. [ Shurunbulali, Imdad al-Fattah ; Binnori, Ma`arif al-Sunan ]
However, it is not blameworthy for there to be slight unnevenness or gaps in a line due to pillars or other obstacles. And this would not affect the validity or properness of the prayer in any way.
And Allah alone gives success.
Faraz Rabbani