It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: If people knew the reward of the call to prayer (adhan) and the first row, and they found no way except to draw lots, then they would draw lots for it. And if they knew the reward of the noon (zuhr) prayer, they would compete with each other to get it. And if people knew the reward of the night (‘isha) and dawn (fajr) prayers, they would certainly come to them, even if they had to crawl on their buttocks.
Hadith Referenceالفتح الربانی / أبواب صلاة الجماعة / 2657
Sayyiduna Nu’man bin Bashir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Indeed, Allah Almighty and His angels send mercy upon those in the first rows.
Hadith Referenceالفتح الربانی / أبواب صلاة الجماعة / 2658
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:صحیح
Hadith Takhrij«حديث صحيح۔ أخرجه البزار: 508 ، (انظر مسند أحمد ترقيم الرسالة: 18364 ترقیم بيت الأفكار الدولية: 18554»
A similar hadith is narrated from Sayyiduna Bara’ bin ‘Azib (may Allah be pleased with him), except that in one of his narrations the words are ‘ala al-sufuuf al-awwal (upon the first rows) and in another narration the words are ‘ala al-saff al-muqaddam (upon the front row).
Hadith Referenceالفتح الربانی / أبواب صلاة الجماعة / 2659
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:صحیح
Hadith Takhrij«حديث صحيح۔ أخرجه النسائي: 2/ 13، (انظر مسند أحمد ترقيم الرسالة: 18506، 18640 ترقیم بيت الأفكار الدولية: 18843»
Sayyiduna Irbad bin Sariyah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) supplicated for forgiveness three times for those in the first row and once for those in the second row.
Hadith Referenceالفتح الربانی / أبواب صلاة الجماعة / 2660
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:صحیح
Hadith Takhrij«حديث صحيح، وھذا سند منقطع أخرجه ابن ماجه: 996، والنسائي: 2/ 92، (انظر مسند أحمد ترقيم الرسالة: 17141، 17157 ترقیم بيت الأفكار الدولية: 17271»
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ubayy bin Ka'b (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: The first row is like the row of angels, and if you knew its virtue, you would hasten towards it.
Hadith Referenceالفتح الربانی / أبواب صلاة الجماعة / 2661
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:صحیح
Hadith Takhrij«حديث حسن۔ أخرجه ابوداود: 554 ، (انظر مسند أحمد ترقيم الرسالة: 21265، 21266 ترقیم بيت الأفكار الدولية: 21588»
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Verily, Allah Almighty and His angels send mercy upon those in the first row. The companions said: O Messenger of Allah! And those in the second row? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Verily, Allah Almighty and His angels send mercy upon those in the first row. The companions again said: O Messenger of Allah! And those in the second row? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: And upon those in the second row as well. Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Straighten your rows, align your shoulders, be gentle in the hands of your brothers, and fill the gaps in the rows, for indeed Satan slips in among you like small lambs.
Hadith Referenceالفتح الربانی / أبواب صلاة الجماعة / 2662
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:صحیح
Hadith Takhrij«صحيح لغيره۔ أخرجه الطبراني في ’’الكبير‘‘: 7727 ، (انظر مسند أحمد ترقيم الرسالة: 22263 ترقیم بيت الأفكار الدولية:»