Is prayer invalidated if a person walks in order to fill the row in front of him during qira’ah?
Dear Brother / Sister,
It is makruh to walk in prayer – if there is nothing that necessitates it. Similarly, to take steps one after another invalidates wudu because such a move includes «amal kathir». In that case, to walk toward the qiblah without taking steps one after another does not invalidate wudu. However, if a person goes outside the mosque by doing so or if he exceeds the rows in the open air, his prayer is invalidated.
If a person turns his back toward the qiblah, his prayer is invalidated. In that case, if a person walks toward the qiblah without taking steps one after another, his prayer is not invalidated.
To walk the length of a row does not invalidate prayer. However, to walk the length of two rows without stopping invalidates prayer. If a person walks the length of a row first, stops for a while and then walks the length of another row, his prayer is not invalidated. Accordingly, to walk in prayer in order to fill the row at the front does not invalidate prayer unless steps are taken one after another. (Celal Yıldırım, Kaynaklarıyla İslam Fıkhı, Uysal Kitabevi: 1/350-351)
Prayer is not invalidated if a person fills the gap in a row by shuffling and without turning his direction from the qiblah.
Questions on Islam
- Is prayer invalidated if the congregation stands in front of the imam in prayer?
- If a person prays alone in the last row in congregation, is his prayer valid?
- What is amal kathir in prayer? I know that changing the place of things in prayer invalidates prayer. Is prayer invalidated if a person changes the place of things involuntarily?
- It is necessary to join any janazah prayer when one comes across with it?
- If a person is disturbed in prayer, can he say stop with a hand signal?
- When is a person regarded to have caught a rak’ah with the imam in prayer?
- If the imam makes a mistake while leading a prayer in congregation, can a person who is not following the imam can intervene?
- Is it permissible to stand up and leave if someone is performing a prayer behind you?
- Things that invalidate prayer
- Is the prayer of a person invalidated if he moves a child who is passing in front of him away?

