Chapter on the Rulings of Congregational Prayer (the Minimum Number for Congregational Prayer, the Description of the Imam, Who Is to Be Followed and Who Is Not to Be Followed, Recitation Behind Both of Them, the Rulings of Those Led in Prayer, and Other Such Rulings Related to It)

Muhammad ibn Yaqub narrated from Ali ibn Ibrahim from his father from Hammad ibn Isa from Hariz from Zurarah from Abu Ja’far عليه السلام, peace be upon him, who said: Imam al-Baqir عليه السلام said: “If a group prays while there is between them and the imam (of prayer) a distance that cannot be stepped over, then that imam (of prayer) is not an imam (of prayer) for them. And any row whose people are praying behind an imam (of prayer), but between them and the row in front of them there is a distance that cannot be stepped over, then that is not considered a prayer for them. And if there is a curtain or a wall between them, then that is not a valid prayer for them except for the one who is directly opposite the door.” Zurarah said, and Imam Abu Ja’far عليه السلام, peace be upon him, also said: “These enclosed chambers (maqasir) did not exist in the time of any of the people; they were only introduced by the tyrants. And the one who prays behind them, following the prayer of someone within them, his prayer is not valid.” Zurarah said and Imam Abu Ja’far عليه السلام, peace be upon him, also said: “The rows ought to be complete and continuous, connected to one another, and there should not be between two rows a space that cannot be stepped over the extent of that being the space where a human body would fall.”