musjid

Musallees making sajdah on the step of the mimbar

Q: In order to create more space in the Musjid for Musallees on the occasion of Jumuah, we ask all the Musallees to move forward one step. The problem is that those Musallees in the first saff who are in line with the Mimbar, when they step forward, they have insufficient space for sajdah and thus make make sajdah on the step of the mimbar.

1.Is the Salaah of these Musallees valid?

2.If the Salaah is valid, is it Makrooh for them to make Sajdah in this manner?

3.In these circumstances, is it permissible to leave a gap in the first saff in line with the mimbar?

Burning bakhoor in the Musjid

Q: We recently started burning bukhoor in our new local masjid on Fridays before Jummuah. We leart that this is sunnat and was also done in Masjid-e-Nabawi (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam). However a few old uncles in the masjid say this is a bidah and India custom and has no basis in shariah and have actually thrown the contents out on some occasions leading to disputes. Please provide proof from the Ahaadith or sunnat as to what is the actual ruling regarding the burning of bukoor or mujammar.