فَخَلَفَ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ أَضَاعُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَاتَّبَعُوا الشَّهَوَاتِ [trans: ”Then, there has succeeded them a posterity who have neglected the prayers and have followed lusts” فَسَوْفَ يَلْقَوْنَ غَيًّا [trans: ”So they will be punished with a severe manifold punishment”[For futher details, see: Tafseer Sadi]
Imaam Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullaah) said:
The Sahaabah and the Taabi-een explained neglect of the prayer to mean offering them outside their fixed times. And certainly neglecting them includes the meaning of abandoning them, abandoning its proper times, its obligations and pillars. Also the one who deliberately delays them beyond their fixed times is a transgressor of the limits imposed by Allaah and likewise is the one who prays them before their fixed times. [Badaa-I At-Tafseer Al-Jaami Limaa Fassarahu Al-Imaam Ibnu Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah: page: 175: Vol: 2]
”Set not up with Allah any other ilah (god), (O man)! , or you will sit down reproved, forsaken (in the hell fire)” [Soorah Al-Israa: Ayah:22]
Imaam Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullaah) said:
Reproved and not praised by anyone, forsaken and having no helper. [1] That is because some people are subdued but they are praised, such as the one subdued based on falsehood. [2] And he may be reproved and helped, such as the one who is subdued and overpowered based on falsehood. [3] And it may be that he is praised and helped, such as the one who is steadfast and judges with justice.
[4] As for the one who associates a partner with [Allaah in worship], he is the degraded one amongst the four categories- neither is he praised nor helped. [Badaa-I At-Tafseer Al-Jaami Limaa Fassarahu Al-Imaam Ibnu Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah: Page: 136: vol: 2]
”If Allaah wishes good for a slave, He makes him acquainted with his sins and withholding from (looking) at the sins of other than him, generous with what he has and abstinent from what others have and forbearing with the harm that comes from others. And if He (Allaah) wishes evil for him, He makes (these things) the opposite upon him.” [Al-Fawaa-id: page: 157]
”Following desires and prolonged hope are the ingredients of every corruption; because following desires blinds (one) from the truth in knowledge and intent. And prolonged hope (makes one) forget the afterlife and hinders from making preparations for it. [Al-Fawaa-id: page: 156]
Whoever commands himself with the Sunnah in speech and action will speak with wisdom. And whoever commands himself with desires in speech and action will speak with innovation. [Hilyatul Awliyaa: 10/244]
Please Note: At Al Markaz as Salafi we pray our Eid Prayer in the park (alhamdulilah). We designate some space at the side and behind the men as an the area for the sisters with tarpaulin and cloth on the floor. There is a barrier at the front and side. Therefore the sisters should fill the rows from the front as explained below by the scholars, and not leave gaps at the front. Jazaakumallahukhair.
– The Salafi Centre Manchester
Full Article:
The hadith explaining this issue is found in Saheeh Muslim where the prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم stated, “The best of the rows of the women are the last ones and the worst are the first ones”. However, this does not indicate an absolute ruling and there is greater detail as to when this is applicable; as many scholars have explained and hold as the correct opinion. Therefore we present the explanation of Shaikh ibn Baz and Shaikh ibn ul-Uthaymeen on the issue.
[Shaikh ibn Baz]
Q: We are a group of women and we pray in the masjid during Ramadan in a designated seperate area from the men, they do not see us and we do not see them [similar to many masaajid where there are now seperate rooms for women]. I have noticed the sisters do not complete the first rows and do not perfect them [instead they prefer the rows toward the back], and some of them use the evidence from the hadith regarding the best rows being the last ones for this action of theirs. I have explained to them that this relates to a situation where the women are praying behind the men in a given space without a barrier between them, however they do not accept my speech, we request you clarify the affair since this is something that occurs in many masaajid.
A: The hadith mentioned in this regard is authentic, however it is understood by the people of knowledge as you mentioned, and that is a situation where there is no barrier between the men and women. If, however, the women are covered and concealed from the men then the best of the rows are the first ones and the worst are the last ones just like the men. It is therefore upon them to complete the rows from the beginning, from the front, and to close the gaps just like the men due to the generality of the narrations with that regard.
[Based on the Shaikh’s response to the issue, Official Website]
[Shaikh ibn ul-Uthaymeen]
The Shaikh’s response regarding the same issue [summarised]: “The intent [of the hadith] is if the men and women are together in one place, in that instance the last rows are better than the first ones for women, that is since the last ones are further from the men and the first ones are closer to them. If, however, the women have a specific designated place of prayer – as is the case in many masaajid now – then the best rows for the women are the first ones just like the men”.
