Abu Dawud

668. Commentary:
From this it is understood that those who do not stand joined together in the rows, leave gaps in between, or keep the row crooked, their prayer is not complete; it remains deficient.

Benefits and Issues

Question: Our Imam places great emphasis on straightening the rows before the prayer. What is the significance of this?

Answer: The arrangement of rows in congregational prayer holds great importance. Straightening the rows is part of establishing the prayer (iqamat as-salah), as narrated from Sayyiduna Anas radi Allahu anhu that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said:

«سَوُّوا صُفُوفَكُمْ فَإِنَّ تَسْوِيَةَ الصُّفُوفِ مِنْ إِقَامَةِ الصَّلَاةِ»

“Straighten your rows, for indeed the straightening of rows is part of establishing the prayer.”

Similarly, in another narration, the words are:

«سووا صفوفكم فان تسوية الصف من تمام الصلاة» [مسلم، كتاب الصلاة : باب تسوية الصفوف وإقامتها 433، أبوداؤد 668، ابن ماجه 993، أبوعوانة 38/2، دارمي 1266، أحمد 177/3]

“Straighten your rows, for indeed the straightening of the row is part of perfecting the prayer.”

From this hadith, it is understood that straightening the rows is part of establishing and perfecting the prayer, and their being crooked causes deficiency in the prayer.

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah radi Allahu anhu narrates that the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said:

«اَقِيْمُوا الصَّفَّ فِي الصَّلَاةِ فَاِنَّ اِقَامَةَ الصَّفِّ مِنْ حُسْنِ الصَّلَاةِ» [بخاري، كتاب الأذان : باب إقامة الصف من تمام الصلاة 722، عبدالرزاق 2424]

“Establish the rows in prayer, for indeed establishing the rows is part of the beauty of the prayer.”

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah radi Allahu anhu narrates that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said:

«اَحْسِنُوْا اِقَامَةَ الصُّفُوْفِ فِي الصَّلَاةِ» [أحمد 485/2]

“Straighten the rows in prayer in a good manner.”

Al-Allamah Nasiruddin al-Albani rahimahullah has declared this hadith to be authentic. [صحيح الترغيب والترهيب 496]

From these authentic ahadith, it is also understood that keeping the rows correct and straight is part of the beauty and perfection of the prayer, and this is a command from the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. If the rows are not properly straightened, there will necessarily be deficiency in the prayer. Straightening the rows and keeping them straight is not only necessary in bowing (ruku‘) but is obligatory from the very beginning of standing (qiyam). The Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam would first straighten the rows and then begin the prayer. If there was any deficiency in the row, he sallallahu alayhi wa sallam would correct it.

Hazrat Nu‘man bin Bashir radi Allahu anhu narrates that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam would straighten the rows until he made them like a spear or an arrow. Once, he sallallahu alayhi wa sallam saw a man’s chest protruding forward and said: “Straighten your rows, or Allah will create discord among your faces.” In some narrations, instead of faces, hearts are mentioned. [ابن ماجه، كتاب إقامة الصلاة والسنة فيها : باب إقامة الصفوف 994، أبوداؤد، كتاب الصلاة : باب تسوية الصفوف 663، مسلم 436، بخاري 717۔ مختصر]

Sayyiduna Bara’ bin ‘Azib radi Allahu anhu says:

“The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam would walk from one end of the row to the other. He sallallahu alayhi wa sallam would touch our chests and shoulders and say: ‘Do not differ, lest your hearts differ.’ And he used to say: ‘Indeed, Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, and His angels send blessings upon the first rows.’” [أبوداؤد، كتاب الصلاة : باب تسوية الصفوف 664، نسائي، كتاب الإمامة : باب كيف يقول الإمام الصفوف 812]

In the Zawa’id of Ibn Majah, it is stated that the chain of narration for the hadith of Sayyiduna Bara’ bin ‘Azib radi Allahu anhu is authentic and all its narrators are trustworthy.

From these authentic ahadith, it is understood that the straightening of the rows should be done before starting the prayer, and it is also understood that it is the duty of the Imam to straighten the rows. If there is any deficiency in the row, he should correct it and then begin the prayer. Unfortunately, today the Imams of mosques do not pay attention to this matter. As soon as the iqamah is called, the prayer is started. The rows are not straightened. In prayer, every person should stand in such a way that his shoulder is touching the shoulder of the one next to him and his foot is touching the foot of the one next to him, with no gap in between, because the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam commanded the filling of gaps.

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin ‘Umar radi Allahu anhuma says:

“Indeed, the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: Establish the rows and align the shoulders and fill the gaps and be gentle in the hands of your brothers and do not leave any space for Satan, and whoever joins the row, Allah will join him, and whoever cuts the row, Allah will cut him off (from His mercy).” [أبوداؤد، كتاب الصلاة : باب تسوية الصفوف666، نسائي، كتاب الامامة : باب من وصل صفاََ 818، حاكم 1/ 213]

Imam Hakim rahimahullah and Imam Dhahabi rahimahullah have said that this is authentic according to the conditions of Muslim, and Al-Allamah al-Albani rahimahullah has also declared this narration authentic. [صحيح الترغيب و التر هيب 492]

Imam Mundhiri rahimahullah, while explaining the word «فرجات» in this hadith, writes:

«الْفُرُجَاتُ جَمْعُ فُرْجَةٍ وَهِيَ الْمَكَانُ الْخَالِيْ بَيْنَ الْاِثْنَيْنِ»

“The word «فرجات» is the plural of «فرجة», and it means the empty space between two men.”

From this hadith, it is understood that gaps in the row should be filled and there should be no empty space between two people. Therefore, those who leave a gap of four fingers or more between two worshippers, their action is not correct; they should correct themselves.

Hazrat Anas radi Allahu anhu says:

«لَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ اَحَدَنَا يُلْزِقُ مَنْكِبَهُ بِمَنْكِبِ صَاحِبِهِ وَقَدَمَهُ بِقَدَمِهِ وَلَوْ ذَهَبَتْ تَفْعَلُ ذٰلِكَ لَتَرَيٰ اَحَدَهُمْ كَاَنَّهُ بَغْلٌ شُمُوْسٌ» [ابن أبى شيبة 3524، 308/1، فتح الباري 211/2، عمدة القاري 260/5]

“I saw that each of us would press his shoulder to the shoulder of his companion and his foot to the foot of his companion, and if you were to do this today with anyone, you would see each of them recoil as if he were a wild mule.”

Hazrat Nu‘man bin Bashir radi Allahu anhu says:

“The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam turned towards the people and said: ‘Establish your rows (he sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said this three times). By Allah, you will certainly straighten your rows or Allah will create discord among your hearts.’ The companion says: ‘Then I saw that a worshipper would press his shoulder and arm to the shoulder and arm of his companion, his knee to his knee, and his ankle to his ankle.’” [ابوداؤد، كتاب الصلاة : باب تسوية الصفوف622، بخاري، كتاب الأذان : باب إلزاق المنكب بالمنكب والقدم بالقدم تعليقًا، أحمد 276/4، ابن حبان 396، دارقطني 282/1]

Abu ‘Uthman an-Nahdi says:

«كُنْتُ فِيْمَنْ ضَرَبَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَدَمَهُ لِإِقَامَةِ الصَّفِّ فِي الصَّلَاةِ» [المحلي لابن حزم 58/4، موسوعة فقه عمر بن الخطاب رضى الله عنه ص/445، ابن أبى شيبة 3530، 309/1، فتح الباري 210/2]

“I was among those whom Hazrat ‘Umar bin Khattab radi Allahu anhu struck on the foot to straighten the row in prayer.”

Salih bin Kaysan narrates that Hazrat Abdullah bin ‘Umar radi Allahu anhuma used to say:

«لَاَنْ يَّخِرَّ ثِنْتَايَ اَحَبُّ اِلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ أَرٰي فِي الصَّفِّ خَلَاءً وَلَا اَسُدُّهُ» [عبدالرزاق 2473، 57/2، ابن أبى شيبة 333/1، المحلي 59/4]

“I prefer that two of my teeth be broken rather than that I see a gap in the row and do not fill it.”

From the above authentic and sound ahadith, it is understood that at the time of starting the prayer, the rows should first be straightened. If there is any gap in the row, it should be filled. It is the duty of the Imam to straighten the rows. Every worshipper should align his shoulder with his brother’s shoulder and his foot with his brother’s foot and be gentle in his brother’s hand. When the row is straightened, the Imam should begin the prayer, and this process starts from the standing (qiyam) itself. It should not be that there is a gap between shoulders and feet during standing and they are joined only in bowing (ruku‘). Similarly, not just one toe, but the entire foot should be joined, as the noble Companions radi Allahu anhum used to do, and one should not recoil like a wild mule when joining feet. By joining feet and filling gaps, the worshipper becomes deserving of reward from Allah, as mentioned above. May Allah grant us the ability to act correctly and protect us from all forms of excess and negligence.

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
Imam Bukhari rahimahullah has mentioned two hadiths under this chapter heading:
In the first hadith, it is stated that straightening the rows is a part of the excellence of prayer.
From this, it is understood that straightening the rows is an excellence of prayer; however, it does not enter into the essence of the prayer itself, rather, through it, beauty is added to the prayer.
In the second hadith, it is stated that aligning the rows is establishing the prayer.
From this, it is understood that if the rows are not aligned, then the establishment of the prayer is also negated.

(2)
Imam Bukhari rahimahullah, by establishing the aforementioned chapter heading, has indicated that straightening the rows is not included in the essence of prayer such that its negation would negate the prayer itself, nor does it mean that the straightening of the rows is to be considered completely separate from the prayer. Rather, arranging the rows is among the completions (complements) of the prayer.

(3)
Hafiz Ibn Hajar rahimahullah has written that Ibn Hazm rahimahullah, based on the words (iqamat as-salat), has declared the arrangement of the rows to be obligatory (wajib), because establishing the prayer is obligatory, and arranging the rows is a part of (iqamat as-salat), therefore, that which is a part of an obligation is also obligatory. However, not all narrators of this hadith agree in narrating these words; rather, most narrators have mentioned the words (tamam as-salat) instead of (iqamat as-salat).
The commentator of Bukhari, Ibn Battal rahimahullah, in view of the phrase "the excellence of prayer," has said that arranging the rows holds the status of a Sunnah, and the excellence of something is more than its completion.
Ibn Daqiq al-‘Id rahimahullah has said that from the words of the hadith, it is understood that arranging the rows in prayer is recommended (mustahabb), because in customary usage, the perfection of a thing is something additional to its reality.
(Fath al-Bari: 2/271)
In any case, taking care to arrange the rows in prayer is extremely important; it brings beauty to the prayer and doing so is the completion of the prayer.
Keeping the rows crooked provides an opportunity for the Shaytan to interfere, as is clarified in the hadith.
Wallahu a‘lam.
The details regarding the obligation or non-obligation of arranging the rows will be mentioned under the next hadith.

Hadith Commentary: Benefits and Issues: In numerous places in the Noble Qur'an, the command for establishing prayer (iqamat al-salah) is given in the form of ﴿وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ﴾, which is the foremost obligation upon Muslims. For its complete and correct performance, it is a condition that the rows (saffs) of the congregation be absolutely straight and even. The wording in Sahih Bukhari is: "min iqamat al-salah" (from the establishment of prayer).

671. Commentary:
"The deficiency should be in the last row." This does not make it clear how the followers should stand in the last, incomplete row—should they stand to the right of the imam, or in the middle? This can be clarified by another hadith «وسطو ا الامام» "Place the imam in the middle," but that narration is weak in its chain of transmission. However, the preferable way appears to be that they should stand in the middle of the row so that the imam remains in the center. [عون المعبود]

667. Commentary:
Shaytan lies in wait at every moment and place to attack the sincere believers. When he infiltrates the rows of prayer, then outside the mosque and in ordinary circumstances, his attack will be even more severe. Therefore, every Muslim should never be heedless of his own defense, and the only way to do so is to acquire knowledge of the Shari‘ah and then act upon it—without exception—in all matters, whether small or large. «و بالله التوفيق»

816. Commentary:

➊ During prayer, one should stand in the row joined together with others, for example: foot to foot, shoulder to shoulder, and ankle to ankle, etc.

➋ Likewise, the distance between two rows should be only enough to allow for prostration (sujud) with ease, for example: three hand spans. If the rows are close, the imam’s voice will also be heard, and the capacity for worshippers will increase.

➌ The meaning of keeping the necks in line is to straighten the rows.

➍ There should not be an empty space between two people, otherwise Shaytan will enter between them, meaning he will create discord and separation between them. The outward (appearance) affects the inward (state) as well. And Allah knows best.

819. Commentary: The meaning is that the front rows should be completed in order. There should be no gap in them. If there is a deficiency (due to a shortage of worshippers), then it should be in the last row.

Benefit:

➊ What is meant by straightening the rows is to make them straight; that is, everyone should stand in line equally, and no one should be ahead or behind another.

➋ If the rows are kept crooked and people do not stand together closely, the prayer becomes deficient and the reward is diminished.

Takhrij:
«أخرجه أبوداود، الصلاة، باب تسوية الصفوف، حديث:667، والنسائي، الإمامة، حديث:815، وابن حبان (الإحسان): 3 /298، حديث:2163، وابن خزيمة، حديث:1545.»©Explanation:
In Islam, there is great emphasis and importance placed on forming rows and maintaining unity. This training and discipline is imparted through the formation of rows in one of Islam’s most fundamental pillars—prayer (salah). The necessity and significance of being like a “solid structure” (bunyanun marsus) in jihad hardly needs elaboration at this point; a mere indication suffices.

If there is a breach in the rows or if the rows become disordered, then mutual cohesion, discipline, and love are also disrupted. Islam seeks to unite hearts, to strengthen mutual relations, to make Mahmood and Ayaz stand in the same row through equality within the Islamic brotherhood, and to protect and safeguard this from satanic interference. Accordingly, it is narrated in the two Sahihs (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim) that on the occasion of standing for prayer, the Noble Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) turned towards the worshippers and said: “Straighten your rows, or else Allah will cause discord, crookedness, and opposition to arise in your hearts.”

The narrator states: Then I saw that in the congregation, a man would stand with his shoulder touching the shoulder of the next person, his ankle with his ankle, and his knee with his knee. See: (Sunan Abi Dawud, Kitab al-Salat, Chapter: Straightening the Rows, Hadith: 662). The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) swore an oath and said: “By the One in Whose hand is my soul! I see that Satan slips between the rows in the form of a small lamb.” (Sunan Abi Dawud, Kitab al-Salat, Chapter: Straightening the Rows, Hadith: 667). That is, he casts whispers into the hearts of the worshippers, alienates them from humility and submissiveness, and tries to divert their attention away from Allah.

There are many other hadiths transmitted regarding the correction of rows in prayer. In short, there is great emphasis on forming rows in congregational prayer. One should stand together and absolutely must not leave any gaps in between.