5 Hadiths Regarding Row Arrangement and the Position of the Follower
① Arranging the Rows and the Order of Standing
Sayyiduna Abu Mas‘ud al-Ansari رضي الله عنه narrates:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would place his hands on our shoulders at the time of prayer and say:
‘Stand straight and do not differ, lest your hearts differ. Let those who are mature and of sound understanding stand nearest to me, then those who are next to them, and then those who are next to them.’”
(Sahih Muslim, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Bāb Taswiyat al-Ṣufūf, Hadith: 234)
Lesson: The people of knowledge and sound judgment should stand nearest to the imam to maintain order, unity, and proper leadership in the row.
② Muhājirīn and Anṣār Standing Close to the Prophet ﷺ
Sayyiduna Anas رضي الله عنه said:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ liked for the Muhājirīn and the Anṣār to be close to him so that they could learn from him.”
(Sunan Ibn Mājah, Kitāb Iqāmat al-Ṣalāh, Bāb Man Yustaḥabb An Yalī al-Imām, Hadith: 779)
Lesson: The Prophet ﷺ preferred to have his closest companions and students near him for better learning and guidance.
③ Standing on the Right Side of the Imam — Moving from the Left
Sayyiduna ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Abbās رضي الله عنهما said:
“I stood on the left side of the Prophet ﷺ during a night prayer, so he took hold of my head from behind and moved me to his right side.”
(Sahih Bukhari, Kitāb al-Adhān, Bāb Idhā Qāma al-Rajul ‘An Yasār al-Imām, Hadith: 627; Sahih Muslim: 367)
④ Moving the Follower from Behind to the Right Side
Sayyiduna Jābir رضي الله عنه said:
“I stood behind the Prophet ﷺ in prayer, so he took hold of my ear and moved me to his right side.”
(Sahih Muslim, Kitāb Ṣalāt al-Musāfirīn, Bāb al-Du‘ā’ fī Ṣalāt al-Layl, Hadith: 667)
Lesson from Both Hadiths:
- When there is only one follower, he should stand on the right side of the imam.
- If he mistakenly stands to the left or directly behind, the imam should move him to the right side.
⑤ Ruling Regarding Iqāmah in Voluntary Prayers
From these narrations it is understood that:
- No iqāmah (tashrīq/takbīr) is given for voluntary prayers.
- If someone is praying alone and another person joins, the first person may change his intention to that of an imam and continue the prayer.
