[Q 702] Praying Sunnah During Congregation

Question

How is it permissible to pray Sunnah or Nawafil Salah in the same row (saff) as a congregation?

For example, if an Imam is leading the congregation and the Muqtadis are standing behind him, is it permissible for a person who is not part of the congregation to stand in the same saff as the Muqtadis and pray his own individual Sunnah or Nafl Salah while the congregation is ongoing?

Is this permissible, and are there any conditions or restrictions regarding this?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
الجواب بعون الملك الوهاب اللهم هداية الحق والصواب

Answer

In congregational prayer, connecting the rows such that all worshippers stand close together with their shoulders touching and no space left between them is among the wajibaat (obligatory acts) of the row. Neglecting it is impermissible and a sin.

Similarly, there is a difference in the ruling for the Sunnah of Fajr and the preceding Sunnah prayers of other salat. The ruling for the Sunnah of Fajr is that if it is highly probable that one can perform the Sunnah prayers and join the congregation before the Imam says salam, then it is obligatory to pray the Sunnah first, and then join the congregation. Whereas for other salat, if there is enough time to join the ruku’ (bowing) of the first rak’ah (unit) [of the fard prayer], then one should perform the Sunnah prayers and then join the congregation. If there is less time such that one will not be able to join the ruku’ of the first rak’ah (even if the congregation can still be joined), then one should pray the Sunnah prayers after performing the fard (obligatory) prayers and first join the congregation.

Regarding where the Sunnah prayers should be performed, the Islamic ruling is that if there is enough time remaining in the congregation such that the Sunnah prayers can be completed before the congregation is established, then they can be performed anywhere. However, if time is short and the congregation will be established before the Sunnah prayers can be completed, then it is not permissible to pray the Sunnah prayers between the rows. Rather, one should perform the Sunnah prayers at the back of the mosque, arranging for a sutrah (barrier), or behind a pillar. The esteemed fuqaha (jurists) have even stated that if the mosque is narrow and no place can be found to pray the Sunnah prayers, then one should abandon the Sunnah prayers and join the congregation.

Therefore, whether it is the Sunnah of Fajr or the Sunnah prayers of any salat, they should not be performed between the rows when the time for congregation is short. This is because, firstly, it clearly indicates opposition to the congregation, and secondly, sometimes it will necessitate cutting a row, which is impermissible and a sin. When a person performing sunan (plural of sunnah) and nawafil (supererogatory prayers) is not participating in the congregation, they are outside the congregation, so it is as if there is an empty space for a person within the row of the congregational prayer.

(قوله عند باب المسجد) أي خارج المسجد كما صرح به القهستاني. وقال في العناية لأنه لو صلاها في المسجد كان متنفلا فيه عند اشتغال الإمام بالفريضة وهو مكروه، فإن لم يكن على باب المسجد موضع للصلاة يصليها في المسجد خلف سارية من سواري المسجد، وأشدها كراهة أن يصليها مخالطا للصف مخالفا للجماعة والذي يلي ذلك خلف الصف من غير حائل اهـ ومثله في النهاية والمعراج.

(Ad-Durr al-Mukhtar ma’ Rad al-Muhtar, vol. 2, p. 56)

If the congregation is established and it is highly probable that one can perform the Sunnah and join the congregation, then one should perform the Sunnah of Fajr separately in another place and then join the congregation. For other prayers, it is not permissible to perform the Sunnah, neither in that place nor separately.

(Fatawa Amjadiyyah, vol. 1, p. 175)

If a muqtadi (follower) knows that the congregation is about to begin and he will not be finished with the Sunnah prayers by then, he should not pray the Sunnah in such a place. Nowadays, most common people do not pay attention to this and enter the row to start their Sunnah prayers.

(Fatawa Bahr al-Uloom, vol. 1, p. 433)

Answered by: Mubashir Attari (AskMufti Scholar)
Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari
Translated answer
Date: 16th August 2026