Answered by Sidi Omar Mahmood
Clarification: Barrier between Imam and Follower
Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim
To clarify a point in my previous post:
When a jama’a (congregation) is partly or completely outside of a Masjid, the jama’a is valid as long as the follower can reach the Imam without turning his / her back completely to the qibla.
The author of Bushra al-Karim notes that the jama’a would be valid as long as one is able to “proceed to the (imam) by means of normal walking and not face his back to the qibla”
Allah knows best.
wassalaam
Omar Mahmood