Q: I am a teacher in one of the institutes for teaching the memorization of the Noble Qur'an and a teacher at Al-Uthmaniyah Masjid,
in Uhud District, Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah.
There are two sessions for Qur'an memorization in this Masjid; one inside the Masjid and the other on the roof. My question is:Is it permissible for the students attending the session on the roof to
perform Salah on the roof following the Imam who leads the congregation inside the masjid?
Note that the students are completely separated from the Imam and the congregation and cannot see the Imam or the congregation. Moreover, there is enough room for them inside the Masjid where they can perform Salah. I asked the Imam to advise the teacher to allow the students to perform Salah inside the Masjid. However, he argued that the students are still children and they disturb people inside the Masjid while running up and down stairs. However, it is evident that some of them are pubescent.As such, should we advise him to discipline the students and have them perform Salah inside the Masjid, or should he keep the younger ones on the roof and send those that have reached puberty (Part No. 6; Page No. 241
A:
Whoever attends the Masjid must join the congregational Salah behind the Imam filling the rows in succession and leaving no space. The reason you mentioned in the question is not a legal excuse for performing Salah on the Masjid roof. Rather, they should be disciplined and educated about the etiquette of being in the Masjid. Monitoring them until they do it well is strongly required.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.