At-Tirmith? said: ‘A group of scholars held it as detested to stand between the poles. This view was also held by Ahmad and Ish?q’. (1) So did Ibn Mas‘?d, An-Nakh‘?, Huthaifah and Ibn ‘Abb?s. (2)

The rationale behind this is to avoid disconnection in the rows.

Accordingly, it is not detested that the praying muslims stand between two poles if the row they form is short and the distance between the poles is satisfactory. It is also not detested for the Im?m to stand between the poles.

Explaining the rationale behind the aforementioned ruling, Ibn Al-‘Arabi said: ‘It is either because of the diconnection of the row- which At-Tirmithi affirmed in his J?mi’- or it is the place where shoes are put. The former reason is sounder for the later is newly done by people. However; at times of over crowdedness, muslims could stand between the poles. The prophet ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) did so when he entered the Ka‘bah; he did Sal?t between its poles. (3) ’ (4)

Commenting on Ibn Mas‘?d’s ’Athar, Al-Baihaqi said: ‘This is because the pole disconnects the row’ (5) .

A third rationale was produced by Al-Qurtub? who said: ‘This is because it is the place where the muslim Jinn do their Sal?t’. (6)

The soundest of all rationales is the disconnection the poles do the rows. This caused Im?m M?lik to held it permissible to form rows between poles at times of overcrowdedness. (7)

The aforementioned ruling applies also to the long staired pulpit that disconnects the first and, sometimes, the second rows.