If we are offering prayer in congregation and a brother in front of me or beside has to leave salah in midst for whatever reason, so should I be taking his place while in salah to make sure there are no gaps. Can you please advise on ruling in Hanafi.
Bismillahi Ta’ala
Walaikum Assalam Warahmatullah,
Yes, if there is an empty spot in front of you, you should take a couple of steps and fill that gap. This is part of the salah, so it does not affect your salah, rather it fortifies the congregation.
However, fuqaha mention that instead of taking two consecutive steps, you should take a large step, pause, and then take another step to fill the gap in the row ahead.
Similarly, if you have empty spot on your right or left within your row due to someone leaving, you should first assess if filling that gap is your responsibility or not. For this, you discern the location of the imam. Now wherever the empty spot comes, the row should move towards the Imam.
In this consideration, if imam is towards your right, and the person to your right has left the row, then it is your duty to take steps towards right to fill the gap. But if the person on your left-side vacated his spot, then the duty falls on the person further left to mover towards you to fill the gap (since you are already closer to Imam).
The same will apply in the opposite as well. If the Imam is on your left, and the person to your right vacates his spot, you will not move. However, while the Imam is on your left and person to your left vacates, then you should move to complete the empty spot.
All these steps should be done without pushing or pulling others to come. Focus on your own responsibility and fulfill that.
Wallahu A’lam
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Faisal al-Mahmudi