10 Authentic Hadiths and Guidelines on Straightening the Rows in Prayer
◈ Command of the Qur’an
Allah ﷻ says:
وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ
“And establish the prayer.”
(Al-Baqarah: 43)
Straightening the rows is part of establishing the prayer properly.
① Straightening the Rows is Part of Establishing Prayer
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Straighten your rows, for indeed straightening the rows is part of establishing the prayer.”
(Bukhari: 723; Muslim: 433)
② Straight Rows are from the Beauty of Prayer
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Straighten the rows, for indeed straightening the rows is part of the perfection of prayer.”
(Bukhari: 722; Muslim: 433)
③ Example of the Angels’ Row Formation
Sayyiduna Jābir ibn Samurah رضي الله عنه narrates:
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Why do you not form rows as the angels form rows before their Lord?”
The Companions asked: “How do the angels form rows before their Lord?”
He said: “They complete the first rows and they stand close together in the row.”
(Muslim: 430)
④ Warning Against Disorder in the Rows
Sayyiduna Nu‘mān ibn Bashīr رضي الله عنهما said:
The Prophet ﷺ would straighten our rows as if he were straightening arrows, until he saw that we had learned how to do it. One day he saw a man with his chest out of line before saying takbīr and said:
“Straighten your rows or Allah will cause your hearts to differ.”
(Bukhari: 717; Muslim: 436)
⑤ Filling the Gaps and Standing Close
Sayyiduna Anas رضي الله عنه narrates:
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Stand close together in your rows, keep your shoulders aligned, and fill the gaps. By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, I see the Shayṭān entering through the gaps in the rows like a small black goat.”
(Abu Dawud: 666 — Sahih Ibn Ḥibbān & Ibn Khuzaymah)
⑥ Misalignment Causes Disunity of Hearts
Sayyiduna Nu‘mān ibn Bashīr رضي الله عنهما narrates:
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Straighten your rows or Allah will cause your hearts to differ.”
The Companions would then stand with ankle to ankle, knee to knee, and shoulder to shoulder.
(Abu Dawud: 666 — Sahih Ibn Ḥibbān)
⑦ The Prophet ﷺ Could See Behind Him
Sayyiduna Anas رضي الله عنه narrates:
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Straighten your rows and stand close together, for I can see you from behind my back.”
Anas said: “We used to place our shoulders to the shoulders of others and our feet to their feet.”
(Bukhari: 725; Muslim: 436)
⑧ The Prophet ﷺ Walking into the Row to Correct It
Sayyiduna al-Barā’ ibn ‘Āzib رضي الله عنه narrates:
The Prophet ﷺ would walk through the row, straighten our chests and shoulders, and say: “Do not be irregular in your rows or your hearts will differ.”
He also said: “Indeed Allah and His angels send blessings upon the people of the first row.”
(Abu Dawud: 664 — authenticated by al-Ḥākim, Ibn Ḥibbān, and Ibn Khuzaymah)
⑨ Straightening Rows Before Takbīr
Sayyiduna Nu‘mān ibn Bashīr رضي الله عنهما narrates:
“When we stood for prayer, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would straighten our rows. Once the rows were straight, he would say ‘Allāhu Akbar’ and begin the prayer.”
(Abu Dawud: 667)
⑩ Rewards for Joining the Rows
- Allah’s and Angels’ Mercy:
Umm al-Mu’minīn ‘Ā’ishah رضي الله عنها narrates:The Prophet ﷺ said: “Allah and His angels send blessings upon those who join the rows. Whoever fills a gap, Allah will raise him a level.”
(Ibn Mājah: 995) - Best Footstep in Prayer:
Sayyiduna ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar رضي الله عنهما narrates:“The best person among you is the one who is gentle in the row, and no step is more rewarded than the one taken to fill a gap in the row.”
(Silsilat al-Aḥādīth al-Ṣaḥīḥah: 3352) - House in Paradise:
Umm al-Mu’minīn ‘Ā’ishah رضي الله عنها narrates:The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever fills a gap in the row, Allah will build for him a house in Paradise and raise his rank.”
(Silsilat al-Aḥādīth al-Ṣaḥīḥah: 2981)
