Reserving a spot in the Masjid
Category:
Masjid Matters
According to Madhhab:
Hanafi
Reference:
1440-278
Question:
What is the ruling of reserving a spot in the Masjid?
If a person has been sitting on a certain place in the Masjid for quite a long period of time (every Salaat he comes and sits there), and then person B starts sitting there (he comes in the Masjid before person A). Person A comes up to person B and tells him that that is his place because he has been sitting there since a year or more, in spite of person B coming to the Masjid before person A. Who is more rightful to sit there, the person who comes early or the person who has been sitting there? Will person B be causing Takleef to person A by sitting on that place which he claims to be his own even if person B comes on that place before person A?
Is it permissible for a person to reserve a spot in the Masjid by placing an item, eg. Itr on a certain spot without him sitting there and without him waiting for the next Salaat, but rather, just to reserve that place for the next Salaat? i.e He performed his Thuhr Salaat and as soon as he was done, he put an Itr to reserve his place for Asr, or he comes 30 minutes before Salaat and puts an item on a spot and goes away and comes back at the time of Salaat and sits there. What is the ruling of this? Is it permissible?
Answer:
1. The one to come to the Masjid is permitted to sit in any vacant area he wishes. It is however, Makrūh to single out an area to read Ṣalāh, if it is done to prevent others from reading there and will lead to arguing when someone else reaches there first. (Fataawa Hindiyyah Vol. 1 Pg. 108). It is impermissible to approach an individual insisting that he moves so one can sit there himself, unless the person moves voluntarily or if someone returns from an emergency pertaining to Ṣalāh (like in the event of relieving oneself or making Wuḍū'), after leaving an item to reserve his spot only to find someone sitting where he had left it. (Fataawa Mahmudiyyah Vol. 6 Pg. 519). However, as Person B has the liberty to sit in any vacant area, it will be appropriate and mature for Person B to leave that place for Person A in order to avoid any meaningless disputes. Inshā Allāh he will be rewarded with the same reward as though he sat there. (Shaami Vol. 1 Pg. 569)
2. While sitting in the Masjid, if someone had to leave due to an emergency related to Ṣalāh but will return immediately thereafter, he will be allowed to leave an item where he is seated to keep his spot. It will not be permissible for anyone to sit there unless there is no space else where or the person has not returned when Ṣalāh begins. And if upon returning he happens to find someone sitting there, he can ask that person to move. It will not be permissible for someone to leave an item to reserve the spot for Ṣalāh if it is left before the time of Ṣalāh or if it is left by someone who has gone to do something not pertaining to Ṣalāh. If it is left for these reasons, it will be permissible for someone else to sit there. (Fataawa Mahmudiyyah Vol. 6 Pg. 520)
AND ALLAH TA'AALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST
ANSWERED BY: Sohel Randera
CHECKED AND APPROVED BY: Mufti Muhammed Saeed Motara Saheb D.B.
Islamic Date:5 Jumaadal Ukhra 1440 - English Date: 11 February 2019