Hadithcore
Riyad as-Salihin, 1089

An-Nu'man bin Bashir (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:

I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying, "Straighten your rows; otherwise, Allah will create dissension among you." <b>[Al- Bukhari and Muslim]</b>. The narration in Muslim is: An-Nu'man bin Bashir (May Allah be pleased with them) said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) directed us to keep our rows as straight as arrows. He continued stressing this until he realized that we had learnt it from him (recognized its significance). One day he came into the mosque and stood up. He was just about to say Takbir (Allah is Greater) when he noticed a man whose chest was projected from the row, so he said, "O slaves of Allah, you must straighten your rows or Allah will certainly put your faces in opposite directions."

وعن النعمان بن بشير رضي الله عنهما، قال‏:‏ سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول‏:‏ ‏"‏لتسون صفوفكم، أو ليخالفن الله بين وجوهكم‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏ وفي رواية لمسلم‏:‏ أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يسوي صفوفنا حتى كأنما يسوي بها القداح، حتى رأى أنا قد عقلنا عنه‏.‏ ثم خرج يومًا فقام حتى كاد يكبر، فرأى رجلا باديا صدره من الصف، فقال ‏"‏عباد الله لتسون صفوفكم، أو ليخالفن الله بين وجوهكم‏"‏‏.‏

References1 variant
In-Book Reference
Book 8, Hadith 99
Sharh · explanationclick to expand
<b>Guidance from the Hadith:</b><br> 1) Not straightening the rows in prayer is a cause of dissension and alienation. This indicates that outward differences lead to inward ones.<br> 2) According to the Prophet’s guidance, by words and practice, the Imām should be keen to straighten the rows.
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