We would say: This is correct. However, the apparent implication of the Messenger’s action—when he did not allow Jabir and Jabbar to stand on his right and left, but rather moved them behind him—may be said to indicate that the imam must stand ahead when there are two or more followers. Even so, there remains some reservation about this. The middle position is that there is no harm in it when necessity demands it; but where there is no necessity, it is not permissible.

His statement, “nor on his left,” means that a follower’s prayer is not valid if he stands to the imam’s left, provided that the imam’s right side is unoccupied. The evidence that this is a condition, based on the author’s own words, is that he said, “on his left only,” meaning: with no one standing on his right. As for the imam’s prayer, is it valid or not?

The answer is: if the imam remains upon the intention of leading the prayer, his prayer is not valid, because he intended to be an imam while praying alone. But if he intends to pray alone, then his prayer is valid.

If it is asked: What is the evidence that a follower’s prayer is invalid when he stands on the imam’s left while the imam’s right side is unoccupied?

We say: The evidence is that the Prophet ﷺ “stood one night to pray, and Ibn Abbas, who had slept at his house, joined him and stood on his left. The Prophet ﷺ then took hold of his head from behind and placed him on his right.” (1) Had this position been valid, the Prophet ﷺ would have allowed him to remain as he was.

If someone were to say: But this occurred in a voluntary prayer?