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.

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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 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 . 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.