Salaah

Foregoing one's place in the first saff for a senior

Q: It has been observed in madaaris, khanqaas, marakis and masaajid in general that students, mureeds, mamoors and general musallies at the time of iqaamat forego their place of the front saff by stepping backward into the second saff to give preference to the ustaad, shaikh, ameer or another Muslim in general, to take their place in the front saff. At times these individuals are in the saff well before hand. On the other hand the one given preference comes much later or even a short while before salaah. Can Mufti Sahib please explain if it is correct to do this? Can one forgo one's reward for another? Please shed any other information you have on this subject.

Looking around in Salaah

Q: If a person looks around in Salaah, what will be the position of his Salaah, will it be makrooh or will it break? Kindly explain the different situations i.e. if he only turned his face to the right or left during Salaah, or he turned his chest as well, or he only looked from the corner of his eye. Will there be any difference in the ruling of the above situations if there was a need for him to look?

Sitting on a chair and performing Salaah due to back pain

Q: I am having some trouble in reading Namaz and I want some suggestions from you. I am suffering from back pain together with sciatica and lumber disorder (pain affecting the back, hip, and leg, etc.). Owing to which I am unable to perform sajda and rukoo smoothly in the traditional way. Doctor says that it is caused by compression of a spinal nerve root in the lower back at L4 and L5 etc. by degeneration of an intervertebral disc.). So, Doctor suggested to me to avoid standing and sitting for a long time, bending/leaning of the back, squatting, lifting weight, etc. as it will lead in worsening my condition. So, in fear of Doctors advice I am using a stool/chair in offering salat. My question is, am I doing the right thing or is there any way in which I can read namaz? Please suggest ways in which I can offer my Namaz on a regular basis without having to compromise my health.