1082/1 - Jābir ibn Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) came out to us one day and said: “Why do you not stand in rows as the angels do before their Lord?” We asked: “O Messenger of Allah, how do the angels stand in rows before their Lord?” He replied: “They complete the first rows and stand in a close and straight manner.” [Narrated by Muslim]
1) It is the Prophet’s guidance to complete and straighten the rows of worshipers. He urged his Companions and the whole Ummah to do that.
2) It encourages the believers to imitate the angels with regard to the rows of prayer.
1083/2 - Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Were people to know the reward for announcing the Adhān and standing in the first row (in congregational prayer) and they had no choice but to draw lots to secure these privileges, they would draw lots.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
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1) It is legitimate to draw lots concerning acts of worship and piety when there are a lot of competitors over them, like, for example, drawing lots to decide who stands in the first row in congregational prayer.
2) Ignorance is the reason why many people do not care about vying over good and righteous acts.
1084/3 - Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The best rows of men are the first and the worst of them are the last; and the best rows of women are the last, and the worst of them are the first.” [Narrated by Muslim]
1) It encourages us to make the rows of men ahead of women’s rows. The first rows of men are the best and the last rows of women are the best.
2) If women pray in a separate place from men, then the best rows for them are the first, as there is no closeness to men in this case or mingling with them.
1085/4 - Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) perceived a tendency among his Companions to stand in the back rows; thereupon, he said to them: “Come forward and follow my lead, and let those behind you follow your lead. If people continue to lag behind, Allah will put them behind.” [Narrated by Muslim]
1) It urges us to follow the Imām and be close to him in prayer.
2) Lagging behind in the performance of good deeds is a reason for keeping one behind in terms of reward and receiving the mercy of Allah Almighty.
3) A knowledgeable person should teach his companions and correct their mistakes, if any.
1086/5 - Abu Mas‘ūd (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) would place his hand upon our shoulders during prayer and say: “Stand in straight rows and do not differ among yourselves, or else your hearts will suffer discord. Let those be nearest to me who are mature and endowed with understanding, then those who are nearest to them in these respects and then those who are nearest to them.” [Narrated by Muslim]
1087/6 - Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Straighten your rows, for indeed, straightening the rows is part of the perfection of prayer.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
In the version narrated by Al-Bukhāri: “straightening the rows is part of the establishment of prayer.”
Nearest to me: directly behind me.
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1) The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) paid great attention to straightening the rows during prayer, through his words and example.
2) They forbid us from making our manner of standing in the rows different, lest our hearts become different as well.
3) It encourages that adults and wiser people stand behind the Imām.
4) Straightening rows is part of the good performance of prayer. So, the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) instructed us to straighten our rows in prayer so that we would reap complete rewards and benefits, while following our Prophet’s example.
1088/7 - He also reported: The Iqāmah for prayer was made and the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) stood facing us and said: “Make your rows straight and stand close together, for I can see you from behind my back.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri] Muslim narrated a Hadīth with the same meaning.
In another version narrated by Al-Bukhāri: “One of us would stick his shoulder to the shoulder of his companion and his foot to his companion’s foot.”
1) Worshipers should straighten their rows in prayer by standing in alignment with one another. That is the Prophet’s guidance.
2) One of the Prophet’s characteristics in prayer is that he could see from behind his back. Outside prayer, however, he is like all other people.
1089/8 - Al-Nu‘mān ibn Bashīr (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) say: “Straighten your rows, or Allah will cause dissension amongst you.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
In a version narrated by Muslim: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) used to straighten our rows as if he was straightening the shaft of an arrow with their help until he saw that we had learned it from him. One day he came out and stood and was about to say Takbīr (to begin the prayer) when he saw a man whose chest was bulging out from the row. He said: “O servants of Allah, you must straighten your rows or Allah will cause dissension amongst you.”
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1) Not straightening the rows in prayer is a cause of dissension and alienation. This indicates that outward differences lead to inward ones.
2) According to the Prophet’s guidance, by words and practice, the Imām should be keen to straighten the rows.
1090/9 - Al-Barā’ ibn Āzib (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) used to pass through the row from one side to the other, patting our chests and shoulders and saying: “Do not differ, lest your hearts differ.” He would also say: “Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the first rows.” [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd, with a sound Isnād]
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1) The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged us, through his words and example, to stand in rows in congregation prayer and to straighten them.
2) It points out the merit of the first rows, as Allah Almighty and His angels send blessings upon them. So, when Allah guides and enables someone to attend congregation prayers, he should be keen to go early so as to win this great reward.
1091/10 - Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Arrange the rows in order, stand shoulder to shoulder, close the gaps, be accommodating to your brothers, and do not leave gaps for Satan. Whoever joins up a row, Allah will join him (to His mercy), and whoever cuts off a row, Allah will cut him off (from His mercy).” [Narrated by Abu Dawūd, with an authentic Isnād]
1092/11 - Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Arrange your rows, keep them close to one another, and stand with your necks aligned, for by the One in Whose Hand my soul is, I see the devils entering through the gaps in the row like Hadhaf (small lambs).” [Abu Dāwūd, with an Isnād as per the conditions set by Muslim]
Hadhaf: a type of small black sheep found in Yemen.
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1) Straightening rows, standing close to one another, and connecting the rows win us the mercy of Allah and connection with Him. Conversely, if we cut off the rows, Allah will cut us off from His mercy.
2) Satan is keen to spoil the prayer and distract worshipers. A wise person would block the ways of Satan by adhering to the Prophet’s guidance.
1093/12 - Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Complete the front row, then the one that comes next, and if there is any incompleteness, let it be in the last row.” [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd, with a sound Isnād]
1) If a person stands in the second row before the first is completed, he would be neglecting the Prophet’s guidance and Sunnah.
2) The Shariah cares for the completion of the rows of worshipers, which trains the believers to be close to one another.
1094/13 - ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the right sides of rows.” [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd, with an Isnād that meets the conditions set by Muslim; the reliability of one of the narrators is questioned] [13]
1095/14 - Al-Barā’ (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: Whenever we prayed behind the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), we liked to be on his right side, as he would turn towards us with his face. I once heard him say: “O Lord, save me from Your punishment on the day You will resurrect - or gather - Your servants.” [Narrated by Muslim]
1) It shows the merit of standing in the right side of rows so as to win the blessings sent by Allah and His angels.
2) The proper course in this regard is that we should be keen to stand in the right side of the row without abandoning the left side, for the Imām has to be in the middle.
1096/15 - Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Make the Imām stand in the middle and fill gaps.” [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd] [14]
1) What is intended by making the Imām stand in the middle is that the right and left sides should be close in size. In case they are equal, then standing in the right side is better.
2) To straighten the rows properly, we should fill the gaps and stand close to one another, foot to foot, with the shoulders and necks aligned.
1) The second half of the Hadīth “and fill gaps” is authentic, as it occurs in the Hadīth reported by Ibn ‘Umar (1091), which reads: “Arrange the rows in order, align your shoulders, and fill the gaps.” As for the statement “make the Imām stand in the middle”, it is weak and not authentically reported from the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him).
2) We have previously noted the weakness of the Hadīth “Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the right sides of rows.” But there is an authentic version that says: “...send blessings upon those who connect the rows.” [Narrated by Ahmad, Abu Dāwūd, and Al-Bayhaqi; reported by ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her)]