Standing to the right of the imaam is not obligatory

23-1-2016 | IslamWeb

Question:

Once, I accidentally prayed to the left of the imam in congregation; only the imam and I were praying. What should I do about that prayer, should I repeat it; should the imam repeat it? I remember that it was either the Dhuhr or the 'Asr prayer.

Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

The scholars differed in opinion in regard to standing at the right-side of the imaam in prayer on whether it is an obligation or only a recommended act. The view of the majority of the scholars is that it is a Sunnah and that the prayer does not become invalid by not standing at the right-side of the imaam; this is the view favored by Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him. Based on this view, your prayer is valid and you are not obliged to repeat it, and the prayer of the imam is also valid, Allaah willing.

Allaah knows best.

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