Hadith Research Libraryمكتبة الحديث والرجال

Chapter 96.0

Straightening The Rows

باب تَسْوِيَةِ الصُّفُوفِ

12 hadiths

Sunan Abi Dawud, 661sahih

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

7 transmitters

Narrated by Abu Ja'far al-NafailifromZuhayr bin Mua'wiya bin HudayjfromSulaiman al-A'mashfromJabir bin Samrafromal-Musayb bin Rafa'i al-AsadifromTmym bin TrfhfromJabir bin Samra

Hadith text · Matn

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ النُّفَيْلِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرٌ، قَالَ سَأَلْتُ سُلَيْمَانَ الأَعْمَشَ عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ سَمُرَةَ، فِي الصُّفُوفِ الْمُقَدَّمَةِ فَحَدَّثَنَا عَنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ بْنِ رَافِعٍ، عَنْ تَمِيمِ بْنِ طَرْفَةَ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ سَمُرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ أَلاَ تَصُفُّونَ كَمَا تَصُفُّ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ جَلَّ وَعَزَّ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قُلْنَا وَكَيْفَ تَصُفُّ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ قَالَ ‏"‏ يُتِمُّونَ الصُّفُوفَ الْمُقَدَّمَةَ وَيَتَرَاصُّونَ فِي الصَّفِّ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

English translation

jabir b. Samurah reported the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying:

Why do you stand in rows as the angels do in the presence of their Lord? We asked: how do the angles stand in rows in the presence of their Lord? He replied: they make the first row complete and keep close together in the row.

Sunan Abi Dawud, 662

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

4 transmitters

Narrated by 'Uthman bin Muhammad (Abi Shayba)fromWaki' bin al-JarrahfromZakaria bin Abi Za'idahfromal-Nu'man bin Bashir ibn Sa'd

Hadith text · Matn

حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنْ زَكَرِيَّا بْنِ أَبِي زَائِدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي الْقَاسِمِ الْجَدَلِيِّ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ النُّعْمَانَ بْنَ بَشِيرٍ، يَقُولُ أَقْبَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى النَّاسِ بِوَجْهِهِ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ أَقِيمُوا صُفُوفَكُمْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ ثَلاَثًا ‏"‏ وَاللَّهِ لَتُقِيمُنَّ صُفُوفَكُمْ أَوْ لَيُخَالِفَنَّ اللَّهُ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَرَأَيْتُ الرَّجُلَ يُلْزِقُ مَنْكِبَهُ بِمَنْكِبِ صَاحِبِهِ وَرُكْبَتَهُ بِرُكْبَةِ صَاحِبِهِ وَكَعْبَهُ بِكَعْبِهِ ‏.‏

English translation

Al-Nu’man b. Bashir said:

the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) paid attention to the people and said three times; straighten your rows (in prayer); by Allah, you must straighten your rows, or Allah will certainly put your faces in contrary directions. I then saw that every person stood in prayer keeping his shoulder close to that of the other, and his knee close to that of the other, and his ankle close to that of the other.

Sunan Abi Dawud, 663sahih

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

4 transmitters

Narrated by Musa bin Isma'il al-Munqari al-TabudhakifromHammad bin ZaydfromSmak bin Hrb bin Awsfromal-Nu'man bin Bashir ibn Sa'd

Hadith text · Matn

‏ لَتُسَوُّنَّ صُفُوفَكُمْ أَوْ لَيُخَالِفَنَّ اللَّهُ بَيْنَ وُجُوهِكُمْ ‏

‏ ‏.‏

English translation

Al-Nu’man b. Bashir said:

the prophet (ﷺ) used to straighten us in the rows of prayer as the arrow is straightened, until he thought that we had learned it from him and understood it. One day he turned towards us, and shoulders in order, and say; Do not be irregular. And he would say: Allah and his Angels bless those who near the first rows.

Original Arabic chain wording

حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ، عَنْ سِمَاكِ بْنِ حَرْبٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ النُّعْمَانَ بْنَ بَشِيرٍ، يَقُولُ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُسَوِّينَا فِي الصُّفُوفِ كَمَا يُقَوَّمُ الْقِدْحُ حَتَّى إِذَا ظَنَّ أَنْ قَدْ أَخَذْنَا ذَلِكَ عَنْهُ وَفَقِهْنَا أَقْبَلَ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ بِوَجْهِهِ إِذَا رَجُلٌ مُنْتَبِذٌ بِصَدْرِهِ فَقَالَ ‏

Sunan Abi Dawud, 664sahih

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

5 transmitters

Narrated by Hanad bin al-Sari bin Mus'abfromAbu al-Ahwus, Salam bin Sulaym al-HanafifromMansur bin al-Ma'tamar al-Salmifrom'Abdur Rahman bin Awsjhfromal-Bara' bin Azib bin al-Harith

Hadith text · Matn

حَدَّثَنَا هَنَّادُ بْنُ السَّرِيِّ، وَأَبُو عَاصِمِ بْنِ جَوَّاسٍ الْحَنَفِيُّ عَنْ أَبِي الأَحْوَصِ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ طَلْحَةَ الْيَامِيِّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَوْسَجَةَ، عَنِ الْبَرَاءِ بْنِ عَازِبٍ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَتَخَلَّلُ الصَّفَّ مِنْ نَاحِيَةٍ إِلَى نَاحِيَةٍ يَمْسَحُ صُدُورَنَا وَمَنَاكِبَنَا وَيَقُولُ ‏"‏ لاَ تَخْتَلِفُوا فَتَخْتَلِفَ قُلُوبُكُمْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ وَكَانَ يَقُولُ ‏"‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلاَئِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى الصُّفُوفِ الأُوَلِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

English translation

Narrated Al-Bara' ibn Azib:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to pass through the row from one side to the other; he used to set out chests and shoulders in order, and say: Do not be irregular. And he would say: Allah and His angels bless those who are near the first rows.

Sunan Abi Dawud, 665sahih

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

5 transmitters

Narrated by 'Ubaidullah bin Mua'dhfromKhalid bin al-Harith bin 'UbaidfromHatm bin Abi SghyrhfromSmak bin Hrb bin Awsfromal-Nu'man bin Bashir ibn Sa'd

Hadith text · Matn

حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ مُعَاذٍ، حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدُ بْنُ الْحَارِثِ، حَدَّثَنَا حَاتِمٌ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ أَبِي صَغِيرَةَ - عَنْ سِمَاكٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ النُّعْمَانَ بْنَ بَشِيرٍ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُسَوِّي صُفُوفَنَا إِذَا قُمْنَا لِلصَّلاَةِ فَإِذَا اسْتَوَيْنَا كَبَّرَ ‏.‏

English translation

Narrated An-Nu'man ibn Bashir:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to straighten our rows when we stood up to pray, and when we were straight, he said: Allah is most great (takbir).

Sunan Abi Dawud, 666sahih

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

8 transmitters

Narrated by 'Abdullah bin WahbfromQutayba bin Sa'id bin JamilfromMu'awiya bin Salah bin HadayrfromHudayr bin Karayb Abu al-ZahriyyafromKathir bin Marrah al-Hadramifromibn UmarfromQutayba bin Sa'id bin JamilfromHudayr bin Karayb Abu al-Zahriyya

Hadith text · Matn

حَدَّثَنَا عِيسَى بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْغَافِقِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، - وَحَدِيثُ ابْنِ وَهْبٍ أَتَمُّ - عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الزَّاهِرِيَّةِ، عَنْ كَثِيرِ بْنِ مُرَّةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، - قَالَ قُتَيْبَةُ عَنْ أَبِي الزَّاهِرِيَّةِ، عَنْ أَبِي شَجَرَةَ، لَمْ يَذْكُرِ ابْنَ عُمَرَ - أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏"‏ أَقِيمُوا الصُّفُوفَ وَحَاذُوا بَيْنَ الْمَنَاكِبِ وَسُدُّوا الْخَلَلَ وَلِينُوا بِأَيْدِي إِخْوَانِكُمْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ لَمْ يَقُلْ عِيسَى ‏"‏ بِأَيْدِي إِخْوَانِكُمْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ ‏"‏ وَلاَ تَذَرُوا فُرُجَاتٍ لِلشَّيْطَانِ وَمَنْ وَصَلَ صَفًّا وَصَلَهُ اللَّهُ وَمَنْ قَطَعَ صَفًّا قَطَعَهُ اللَّهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ أَبُو شَجَرَةَ كَثِيرُ بْنُ مُرَّةَ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَمَعْنَى ‏"‏ وَلِينُوا بِأَيْدِي إِخْوَانِكُمْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ إِذَا جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى الصَّفِّ فَذَهَبَ يَدْخُلُ فِيهِ فَيَنْبَغِي أَنْ يُلَيِّنَ لَهُ كُلُّ رَجُلٍ مَنْكِبَيْهِ حَتَّى يَدْخُلَ فِي الصَّفِّ ‏.‏

English translation

Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: Set the rows in order, stand shoulder to shoulder, close the gaps, be pliant in the hands of your brethren, and do not leave openings for the devil. If anyone joins up a row, Allah will join him up, but if anyone breaks a row, Allah will cut him off. Abu Dawud said: The name of Abu Shjrah is Kathir b. Murrah.

Sunan Abi Dawud, 667sahih

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

4 transmitters

Narrated by Muslim bin Ibrahim al-AzdyfromAban bin Yazid al-TarfromQatadafromAnas bin Malik

Hadith text · Matn

‏ رُصُّوا صُفُوفَكُمْ وَقَارِبُوا بَيْنَهَا وَحَاذُوا بِالأَعْنَاقِ فَوَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ إِنِّي لأَرَى الشَّيْطَانَ يَدْخُلُ مِنْ خَلَلِ الصَّفِّ كَأَنَّهَا الْحَذَفُ ‏

‏ ‏.‏

English translation

Narrated Anas ibn Malik:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: Stand close together in your rows, bring them near one another, and stand neck to neck, for by Him in Whose hand my soul is, I see the devil coming in through openings in the row just like a small black sheep.

Original Arabic chain wording

حَدَّثَنَا مُسْلِمُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبَانُ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏

Sunan Abi Dawud, 668sahih

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

5 transmitters

Narrated by Hisham bin 'Abdul Malik al-TayalasifromSulaiman bin HarbfromShu'bah bin al-HajjajfromQatadafromAnas bin Malik

Hadith text · Matn

‏ سَوُّوا صُفُوفَكُمْ فَإِنَّ تَسْوِيَةَ الصَّفِّ مِنْ تَمَامِ الصَّلاَةِ ‏

‏ ‏.‏

English translation

Anas reported the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying :

Straighten your rows for the straightening of the rows is part of perfecting the prayer.

Original Arabic chain wording

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْوَلِيدِ الطَّيَالِسِيُّ، وَسُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏

Sunan Abi Dawud, 669da’if

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

4 transmitters

Narrated by Qutayba bin Sa'id bin JamilfromHatm bin Isma'il al-MadnifromMus'ab bin Thabit bin 'AbdullahfromMuhammad Ibn Maslama

Hadith text · Matn

‏ اسْتَوُوا وَعَدِّلُوا صُفُوفَكُمْ ‏

‏ ‏.‏

English translation

Muhammad b. Muslim b. al-Sa’ib said:

one day I prayed by the side of Anas b. Malik. He said ; Do you know why this stick is placed here ? I said : No, by Allah. He said; The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to put his hand upon it and say: Keep straight and straighten your rows.

Original Arabic chain wording

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا حَاتِمُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، عَنْ مُصْعَبِ بْنِ ثَابِتِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمِ بْنِ السَّائِبِ، صَاحِبِ الْمَقْصُورَةِ قَالَ صَلَّيْتُ إِلَى جَنْبِ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ يَوْمًا فَقَالَ هَلْ تَدْرِي لِمَ صُنِعَ هَذَا الْعُودُ فَقُلْتُ لاَ وَاللَّهِ ‏.‏ قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَضَعُ يَدَهُ عَلَيْهِ فَيَقُولُ ‏

Sunan Abi Dawud, 670da’if

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

5 transmitters

Narrated by Masdad bin MasrhadfromHameed bin al-'Aswad bin al-'AshqrfromMus'ab bin Thabit bin 'AbdullahfromMuhammad Ibn MaslamafromAnas bin Malik

Hadith text · Matn

حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا حُمَيْدُ بْنُ الأَسْوَدِ، حَدَّثَنَا مُصْعَبُ بْنُ ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، بِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ إِذَا قَامَ إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ أَخَذَهُ بِيَمِينِهِ ثُمَّ الْتَفَتَ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ اعْتَدِلُوا سَوُّوا صُفُوفَكُمْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ ثُمَّ أَخَذَهُ بِيَسَارِهِ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ اعْتَدِلُوا سَوُّوا صُفُوفَكُمْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

English translation

This tradition has also ben transmitted by Anas through a different chain of transmitters. This version goes:

when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood for prayer, he took it (the stick) in his right hand and turning (to the right side) said; keep straight and straighten your rows. He then took it in his left hand and said; keep straight and straighten your rows.

Sunan Abi Dawud, 671sahih

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

5 transmitters

Narrated by Muhammad bin Abi Da'ud al-BghdadyfromAbd al-Whab bin Ata'afromSa'id bin Abi Sa'id (Kaysan)fromQatadafromAnas bin Malik

Hadith text · Matn

‏ أَتِمُّوا الصَّفَّ الْمُقَدَّمَ ثُمَّ الَّذِي يَلِيهِ فَمَا كَانَ مِنْ نَقْصٍ فَلْيَكُنْ فِي الصَّفِّ الْمُؤَخَّرِ ‏

‏ ‏.‏

English translation

Narrated Anas ibn Malik:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: Complete the front row, then the one that comes next, and if there is any incompleteness, let it be in the last row.

Original Arabic chain wording

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ الأَنْبَارِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ عَطَاءٍ - عَنْ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏

Sunan Abi Dawud, 672sahih

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

5 transmitters

Narrated by Muhammad bin Bashar Bindarfromal-Dahhak bin Mukhlad Abu 'Asim al-NabilfromJa'far bin Yahya bin Thwbanfrom'Ata' bin Abi Rabahfromibn Abbas

Hadith text · Matn

‏ خِيَارُكُمْ أَلْيَنُكُمْ مَنَاكِبَ فِي الصَّلاَةِ ‏

‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ جَعْفَرُ بْنُ يَحْيَى مِنْ أَهْلِ مَكَّةَ ‏.‏

English translation

Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: The best of you are those whose shoulders are soft in prayer.

Original Arabic chain wording

حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَاصِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَعْفَرُ بْنُ يَحْيَى بْنِ ثَوْبَانَ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عَمِّي، عُمَارَةُ بْنُ ثَوْبَانَ عَنْ عَطَاءٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏