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Performing Salaah in front of the Imaam of the Haram of Makkah Mukarramah

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by TheMufti.com

Q. Assalamualaikum Mufti Saheb, We notice that often, the Imaams of the Haram in Mecca lead the farz salaahs (also taraweeh) from the first floor and not on the mataaaf close to the Kaaba. The musallees on the mataaf are thus performing salaah in front of the Imaam. What is the ruling with regards to musallees performing salaah in front of the Imaam.


A. According to the majority of the Jurists, if a follower (Muqtadi) follows and stands in front of the Imaam, the Salaah will be invalid. A follower (Muqtadi) must stand behind the Imaam for the validity of the Salaah.

In the case of performing Salaah in the Haram, the above ruling applies to the follower (Muqtadi) following the Imaam in the same direction of the Imaam facing the Ka’bah.  If a follower (Muqtadi) is facing one side of the Ka’bah and the Imaam is facing another side of the Ka’bah, the above ruling will not apply and the Salaah performed will be valid. (Al-Fiqhul Islaami Wa Idillatuhu 2/1246)

Note: The followers of the Hanafi, Shafi’ and Hanbali school of thought should ensure that they are behind the Imaam of the Haram when performing Salaah in the same direction of the Imaam facing the Ka’bah to avoid their Salaah becoming invalid.

Allah Ta’ala Knows Best

Mufti Ismaeel Bassa

This answer was collected from TheMufti.com, which is a fatwa portal managed by Mufti Ismaeel Bassa from South Africa.

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