Straightening the Rows - Section 1

An-Nu‘man b. Bashir said:

God’s Messenger used to straighten our rows as if he were trying to make them as straight as arrows until he saw that we had learned it from him. One day he came out, stood up, and was just about to say God is most great ’ when he saw a man whose chest projected from the row, so he said, “Servants of God, you must straighten your rows, or God will certainly put your faces in contrary directions."* * The use of “faces” here may mean the people themselves and their inner nature. The tradition may refer to civil strife, which is possibly the meaning of the tradition below from Abu Mas'ud. Muslim transmitted it.

عَن النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُسَوِّي صُفُوفَنَا حَتَّى كَأَنَّمَا يُسَوِّي بِهَا الْقِدَاحَ حَتَّى رَأَى أَنَّا قَدْ عَقَلْنَا عَنْهُ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ يَوْمًا فَقَامَ حَتَّى كَادَ أَنْ يُكَبِّرَ فَرَأَى رَجُلًا بَادِيًا صَدْرُهُ مِنَ الصَّفِّ فَقَالَ: «عِبَادَ اللَّهِ لَتُسَوُّنَّ صُفُوفَكُمْ أَوْ لَيُخَالِفَنَّ اللَّهُ بَيْنَ وُجُوهِكُمْ» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Anas said:

The <i>iqama</i>* had been uttered and God’s Messenger faced us and said, “Make your rows straight and stand close together, for l can see you behind my back.” * A repetition of the words of the call to prayer after the worshippers have taken their places with the addition of a statement that the time of prayer has come. Bukhari transmitted it. In the version given by Bukhari and Muslim he said, “Make the rows perfect, for I can see you behind my back."

وَعَن أنس قَالَ: أُقِيمَتِ الصَّلَاةُ فَأَقْبَلَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِوَجْهِهِ فَقَالَ: «أَقِيمُوا صُفُوفَكُمْ وَتَرَاصُّوا فَإِنِّي أَرَاكُمْ مِنْ وَرَاءِ ظَهْرِي» . رَوَاهُ الْبُخَارِيُّ. وَفِي الْمُتَّفَقِ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ: «أَتِمُّوا الصُّفُوف فَإِنِّي أَرَاكُم من وَرَاء ظَهْري»

He reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Straighten your rows, for the straightening of the rows is part of the <i>iqama</i> for prayer." (Bukhari and Muslim, but Muslim has “part of the perfection of prayer.’’)

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «سَوُّوا صُفُوفَكُمْ فَإِنَّ تَسْوِيَةَ الصُّفُوفِ من إِقَامَة الصَّلَاة» . إِلَّا أَنَّ عِنْدَ مُسْلِمٍ: «مِنْ تَمَامِ الصَّلَاةِ»

Abu Mas'ud al-Ansari said:

God’s Messenger used to touch our shoulders at the prayer and say, “Keep straight; do not be irregular and so have your hearts irregular. Let those of you who are sedate and prudent be near me, then those who are next to them, then those who are next to them." Abu Mas'ud said, “Nowadays you are much more irregular." Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي مَسْعُودٍ الْأَنْصَارِيِّ قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَمْسَحُ مَنَاكِبَنَا فِي الصَّلَاةِ وَيَقُولُ: «اسْتَوُوا وَلَا تَخْتَلِفُوا فَتَخْتَلِفَ قُلُوبكُمْ ليليني مِنْكُم أولُوا الْأَحْلَامِ وَالنُّهَى ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ» . قَالَ أَبُو مَسْعُودٍ: فَأَنْتُمُ الْيَوْمَ أَشَدُّ اخْتِلَافا. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Let those of you who are sedate and prudent be near me, then those who are next to them (saying it three times), and beware of haphazardness* such as is found in markets.” * Or “tumult”. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لِيَلِنِي مِنْكُمْ أُولُو الْأَحْلَامِ وَالنُّهَى ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ» ثَلَاثًا وَإِيَّاكُم وهيشات الْأَسْوَاق ". رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri told that when God’s Messenger saw a tendency among his companions to go to the back he said to them, “Come forward and follow my lead, and let those who come after you follow your lead. People will continue to keep to the back till God will put them at the back.”* * This has been explained as referring to their being denied God’s grace, or their lacking rank or knowledge. But cf. the tradition from 'A’isha at the end of Section III. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ قَالَ: رَأَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي أَصْحَابِهِ تَأَخُّرًا فَقَالَ لَهُمْ: «تَقَدَّمُوا وَأْتَمُّوا بِي وَلْيَأْتَمَّ بِكُمْ مَنْ بَعْدَكُمْ لَا يَزَالُ قَوْمٌ يَتَأَخَّرُونَ حَتَّى يؤخرهم الله» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Jabir b. Samura said:

God’s Messenger came out to us and when he saw us sitting in circles he said, “How is it that I see you in separate companies?” On another occasion he came out to us and said, “Why do you not draw yourselves up in rows as the angels do in the presence of their Lord?” We asked, "Messenger of God, how do the angels draw themselves up in rows in the presence of their Lord?” He replied, "They make the first rows complete and keep close together in the row.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ سَمُرَةَ قَالَ: خَرَجَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَرَآنَا حلقا فَقَالَ: «مَالِي أَرَاكُمْ عِزِينَ؟» ثُمَّ خَرَجَ عَلَيْنَا فَقَالَ: «أَلَا تَصُفُّونَ كَمَا تَصُفُّ الْمَلَائِكَةُ عِنْدَ رَبِّهَا؟» فَقُلْنَا: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَكَيْفَ تَصُفُّ الْمَلَائِكَةُ عِنْدَ رَبِّهَا؟ قَالَ: «يُتِمُّونَ الصُّفُوفَ الْأُولَى وَيَتَرَاصُّونَ فِي الصَّفّ» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, "The best of the men’s rows is the first and the worst is the last, but the best of the women’s rows is the last and the worst is the first.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «خَيْرُ صُفُوفِ الرِّجَالِ أَوَّلُهَا وَشَرُّهَا آخِرُهَا وَخَيْرُ صُفُوفِ النِّسَاءِ آخِرُهَا وشرها أَولهَا» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Anas reported God’s Messenger as saying, "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 like a number of small black sheep.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «رُصُّوا صُفُوفَكُمْ وَقَارِبُوا بَيْنَهَا وَحَاذُوا بِالْأَعْنَاقِ فَوَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ إِنِّي لَأَرَى الشَّيْطَانَ يَدْخُلُ مِنْ خَلَلِ الصَّفِّ كَأَنَّهَا الْحَذَفُ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

He reported God’s Messenger as saying, "Complete the front row, then the one that comes next, and if there is any incompleteness let it be in the last row.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «أَتِمُّوا الصَّفَّ الْمُقَدَّمَ ثُمَّ الَّذِي يَلِيهِ فَمَا كَانَ مِنْ نَقْصٍ فَلْيَكُنْ فِي الصَّفّ الْمُؤخر» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

Al-Bara’ b. ‘Azib told how God’s Messenger used to say, "God and His angels bless those who are near the first rows, and no step is more pleasing to God than one a worshipper takes to reach a row." Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنِ الْبَرَاءِ بْنِ عَازِبٍ قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ يَلُونَ الصُّفُوفَ الْأُولَى وَمَا مِنْ خُطْوَةٍ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ من خطْوَة يمشيها يصل العَبْد بهَا صفا» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

‘A’isha reported God’s Messenger as saying, "God and His angels bless those who are on the right flanks of the rows." Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسلم: «إِن اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى مَيَامِنِ الصُّفُوفِ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

An-Nu‘man b. Bashir said:

God’s Messenger used to straighten our rows when we stood up to pray, and when we were straight he said, “God is most great." Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُسَوِّي صُفُوفَنَا إِذَا قُمْنَا إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ فَإِذَا اسَتْوَيْنَا كَبَّرَ. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

Anas told how God’s Messenger used to say to those on his right, ‘‘Keep straight and straighten your rows," and say the same to those on his left. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ: «اعْتَدِلُوا سَوُّوا صُفُوفَكُمْ» . وَعَنْ يَسَارِهِ: «اعْتَدِلُوا سَوُّوا صُفُوفَكُمْ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُ

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s Messenger as saying, ‘‘The best of you are those whose shoulders give least annoyance in prayer." Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «خِيَارُكُمْ أَلْيَنُكُمْ مَنَاكِبَ فِي الصَّلَاة» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

Anas told how the Prophet (ﷺ) used to say, ‘‘Keep in alignment, keep in alignment, keep in alignment, for by Him in whose hand my soul is, I can see you behind me just as I see you in front of me." Abu Dawud transmitted it.

عَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُول: «اسْتَووا اسْتَوُوا اسْتَوُوا فَوَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ إِنِّي لَأَرَاكُمْ من خَلْفي كَمَا أَرَاكُم من بَين يَدي» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

Abu Umama reported God’s Messenger as saying, ‘‘God and His angels bless the first row." On being asked whether this applied to the second, he said, ‘‘God and His angels bless the first row." He was again asked if it applied to the second and said, ‘‘God and His angels bless the first row." When asked once again if it applied to the second he said, ‘‘And the second." And God’s Messenger said, ‘‘Straighten your rows, stand shoulder to shoulder, be pliant in the hands of your brethren,* and close up the gaps, for the devil enters through openings like the <i>hadhaf</i> i.e., small lambs. * Here, as in the last tradition of section II, warning is given against jostling one’s neighbours during prayer. At the same time instruction is given that no gaps should be left. Ahmad transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي أُمَامَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى الصَّفِّ الْأَوَّلِ» قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَعَلَى الثَّانِي قَالَ: «إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى الصَّفِّ الْأَوَّلِ» قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَعَلَى الثَّانِي قَالَ: «إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى الصَّفِّ الْأَوَّلِ» قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ الله وعَلى الثَّانِي؟ قَالَ: «وعَلى الثَّانِي» قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «سَوُّوا صُفُوفَكُمْ وَحَاذُوا بَيْنَ مَنَاكِبِكُمْ وَلِينُوا فِي أَيْدِي إِخْوَانِكُمْ وَسُدُّوا الْخَلَلَ فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَدْخُلُ بَيْنَكُمْ بِمَنْزِلَةِ الْحَذَفِ» يَعْنِي أَوْلَادَ الضَّأْنِ الصِّغَارِ. رَوَاهُ أَحْمد

Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s Messenger as saying, ‘‘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 God will join him up, but if anyone breaks a row God will cut him off.” Abu Dawud transmitted it and Nasa’i transmitted from “If anyone joins up ...” to the end.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «أَقِيمُوا الصُّفُوفَ وَحَاذُوا بَين المنكاكب وَسُدُّوا الْخَلَلَ وَلِينُوا بِأَيْدِي إِخْوَانِكُمْ وَلَا تَذَرُوا فرجات للشَّيْطَان وَمَنْ وَصَلَ صَفًّا وَصَلَهُ اللَّهُ وَمَنْ قَطَعَهُ قطعه الله» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد وَالنَّسَائِيّ مِنْهُ قَوْلَهُ: «وَمَنْ وَصَلَ صَفًّا» . إِلَى آخِرِهِ

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Have the imam in the centre and close up the gaps.’’ Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «تَوَسَّطُوا الْإِمَامَ وَسُدُّوا الْخَلَلَ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

‘A’isha reported God’s Messenger as saying, “People will continue to withdraw to rows behind the first one till God puts them in a back place in hell." Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا يَزَالُ قَوْمٌ يَتَأَخَّرُونَ عَنِ الصَّفِّ الْأَوَّلِ حَتَّى يُؤَخِّرَهُمُ اللَّهُ فِي النَّارِ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ

Wabisa b. Ma'bad said that God’s Messenger saw a man praying alone behind the row and ordered him to repeat the prayer. Ahmad Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Tirmidhi said this is a <i>hasan</i> tradition.

وَعَنْ وَابِصَةَ بْنِ مَعْبَدٍ قَالَ: رَأَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ رَجُلًا يُصَلِّي خَلْفَ الصَّفِّ وَحْدَهُ فَأَمَرَهُ أَنْ يُعِيدَ الصَّلَاةَ. رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ وَقَالَ التِّرْمِذِيُّ هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ