عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ غَنَمٍ قَالَ: قَالَ أَبُو مَالِكٍ الْأَشْعَرِيُّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ لِقَوْمِهِ: أَلَا أُصَلِّي لَكُمْ صَلَاةَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَصَفَّ الرِّجَالَ ثُمَّ صَفَّ الْوِلْدَانَ ثُمَّ صَفَّ النِّسَاءَ خَلْفَ الْوِلْدَانِ
Sayyiduna Abu Malik Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him) said to his people: Shall I not lead you in prayer as the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray? Then he formed a row of men, after that a row of children, and behind the children a row of women.