Some scholars said: [the interruption is] the space occupied by three men standing. The space occupied by three men standing is less than three cubits. It was also said that the criterion is customary usage, and this is what is apparent from the author’s wording. As for pillars smaller than that, they are too small to break up the rows, especially when there is a considerable distance between them. Accordingly, standing between them is not disliked.

Whenever the pillars are such that standing between them is disliked, this is conditional upon there being no need. If there is a need for it—such as when the congregation is large and the mosque is narrow—then there is no harm in it due to the need. For their standing between the pillars inside the mosque is better than their standing outside it. People have continued to do this, when needed, in the two mosques: the Sacred Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque. It is only disliked because the Companions would avoid this (1), to the point that they would sometimes be driven away from the pillars (2). Moreover, what is required in forming rows is that the worshippers stand closely together, so that they constitute a single row. If there are pillars that break up the rows, this intended objective of the Lawgiver is lost.

Section

A sick person, and one resisting the urge to relieve himself of either of the two excretions, is excused from attending the Friday prayer and the congregational prayer, ..........

His statement, “Section”: the author has included this section to explain the excuses that waive the obligation of the Friday prayer and the congregational prayer. It is based on the saying of Allah, Most High: “And He has not made