The Islamic Perspective on Stepping Over People’s Necks During the Friday Khutbah
RULING ON STEPPING OVER PEOPLE’S NECK ON JUMU’AH
The Prophet (ﷺ) forbade stepping over people’s necks during the Jumu’ah Khutbah, because that causes annoyance to those who are sitting.
'Abdullāh ibn Busr (may ALLĀH be pleased with him) said: "A man came, stepping over the people’s necks ˹to pass through the rows˺ on Friday, when the Prophet (ﷺ) was giving the Khutbah. So the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Sit down; you are causing annoyance.” {Abu Dawud #1118 and An-Nasa’i #1399}Ibn Hajar (may ALLĀH have mercy on him) said: "What this means is lifting the feet too much, over the heads or shoulders of the two persons between whom he wants to pass, and perhaps something that is on his feet may get onto their clothes." {Fath Al-Bari || 2/392}An exception to the prohibition on stepping over people’s necks is made for the Imām, if he has no way to reach the Minbar or Mihrab except by stepping over people’s necks. Some scholars also made an exception if those who are sitting have left a gap in front of them and the one who left his spot for a reason.
The point is that with regard to stepping over people, one of the following two scenarios must apply:
That it is done for no reason. This is haram because ALLĀH says: “And those who annoy believing men and women undeservedly, they bear (on themselves) the crime of slander and plain sin” {Al-Ahzāb: 58}
And the Prophet (ﷺ) said to a man who stepped over people: “Sit down, for you are causing annoyance.”
That it is done for a reason, in which case there is nothing wrong with it in sha ALLĀH. This includes a number of things such as:
The imam, if he cannot find a way to reach his place except by stepping over people.
Al-Mirdawi (may ALLĀH have mercy on him) said: But if he is the Imām, he may pass over people’s necks and it is not disliked, if he needs to do that. This is our view, and it was stated definitively by Al-Majd." {Al-Insaf || 6/288}One who wants to leave or left his spot for a reason.
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Whoever gets up from his spot then returns to it is more entitled to it.” {Muslim #2179}Ibn Qudamah (may ALLĀH have mercy on him) said: “If he sits in a place, then he leaves it because he wants to do something or he needs to do wudoo’, he may leave (i.e., even if that means that he has to step over people). ‘Uqbah said: I prayed ‘Asr behind the Prophet (ﷺ) in Madīnah, then he said the salām then he got up quickly and stepped over the people until he reached the apartment of one of his wives, and he said: “I remembered some gold nuggets that we had and I did not want to be distracted by it, so I gave instructions that it be shared out.” Narrated by al-Bukhārī… If he gets up and leaves his spot then comes back, he has more right to it… The ruling with regard to stepping over people in order to reach one’s spot is the same as one who sees a gap in front of him.” {Al-Mughni || 2/101}
If a person (latecomer) sees a gap in the front row.
Al-Nawawi (may ALLĀH have mercy on him) said: “If he sees a gap in front of them, and he cannot reach it except by stepping over them, then our companions said that it is not makrooh to step over them, because those who are sitting behind it have been negligent in not filling the gap, whether there are other gaps or not, and whether it is close to them or not. But if there is another spot available, it is better not to step over them. If there is a closer spot and he can reach it without stepping over more than two men, then he may go there. If it is far away and he hopes that they will move forward and fill it when the iqāmah for prayer is given, then it is mustahabb for him to sit where he is and not step over people, otherwise he may do that.” {Al-Majmū’ || 4/420}
And ALLĀH knows best.