Bukhari

Hadith Commentary:
That is, He will transform (maskh) them.
Some have interpreted this to mean that He will cause division among them.
In the hadiths of this chapter, there is no explicit mention that the rows should be straightened after the opening takbir (takbir). However, Imam Bukhari rahimahullah has alluded to other chains of these hadiths, as later on Imam Bukhari rahimahullah himself has narrated this very hadith in such a way that after the takbir for prayer was pronounced, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam turned towards us and said this.
And in the narration of Muslim, it is mentioned that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was about to begin the prayer by saying the takbir when he said this.
Imam Ibn Hazm rahimahullah, based on the apparent wording of these hadiths, has stated that straightening the rows is obligatory (wajib), while according to the majority of scholars, it is Sunnah, and this warning (wa'id) was given so that people would pay due attention to this Sunnah.
The purpose of straightening is that they should stand in a straight line, not ahead or behind one another.
Or, that any empty space in the row should be filled.
(Maulana Waheed uz-Zaman, may Allah have mercy on him)
Allamah Ibn Hajar rahimahullah states:
"It is possible that Imam Bukhari rahimahullah derived the obligation (wujub) from the imperative form in the statement 'sawwoo sufoofakum' (straighten your rows), and also from the generality of the hadith in which the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, 'Pray as you have seen me pray.' And from the warning that has been reported regarding its neglect, etc."
That is, it is possible that Imam Bukhari rahimahullah deduced the obligation from the imperative form of the hadith 'sawwoo sufoofakum' (straighten your rows), and also from the generality of the Prophetic statement in which the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, "Pray as you have seen me pray."
It is established from authentic narration that Umar radi Allahu anhu struck the foot of Abu Uthman Nahdi when he was not standing straight in the row.
This was also the practice of Bilal radi Allahu anhu, that whenever he saw someone crooked in the row, he would begin to strike their feet.
In short, straightening the rows is extremely important.

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
It is necessary to straighten the rows for prayer, whether before the iqamah, during it, or after it—there is no restriction regarding the time. Imam al-Bukhari rahimahullah previously established a chapter heading that when people see the imam at the time of the takbir, they should stand up for prayer. This implied that immediately after the takbir, the prayer should be established without delay. By establishing the above-mentioned chapter heading, Imam al-Bukhari rahimahullah indicated that if there is any deficiency in the rows, it can be corrected even after the iqamah. In any case, the imam should ensure that the rows of the worshippers are completely straight and that there are no gaps in them. Imam al-Bukhari rahimahullah has deduced from the generality of the hadith that there is no restriction regarding the time for straightening the rows. Hafiz Ibn Hajar rahimahullah writes that Imam al-Bukhari rahimahullah, by adding the words "at the time of iqamah or after it" in the chapter heading, as per his habit, has indicated towards some of the routes of the hadith. Thus, in Sahih Muslim, it is mentioned that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam gave this instruction at the time when he was about to pronounce the opening takbir (takbir tahrimah). (, Sahih al-Bukhari, al-Adhan, Hadith: 719) And in a hadith narrated from Anas radi Allahu anhu, it is mentioned that when the iqamah for prayer was pronounced, at that time he sallallahu alayhi wa sallam turned towards us and gave the aforementioned instruction. (, Sahih Muslim, al-Salat, Hadith: 979(436))

(2)
It is necessary to straighten the rows. If there is negligence in this matter, the outward opposition will have an effect on the inward state, such that love and affection will not remain among the people; rather, differences will arise in their hearts, which will shatter their unity, and their awe over their enemies will also be lost. As is mentioned in Sunan Abu Dawud: "Straighten your rows, otherwise Allah will create discord among your hearts." (, Sunan Abi Dawud, al-Salat, Hadith: 662) It is also possible that by opposing the legal ruling regarding the rows, disfigurement may occur in the faces, they may be turned towards the nape, or they may be completely transformed into the form of an animal. Some narrations also support this meaning. (, Fath al-Bari: 2/269)

Hadith Commentary:
Vocabulary of the Hadith:
Qidāḥ:
Qidḥ is the plural of qidḥ.
The Arabs would carve sharp sticks from wood for use in hunting or war, and they would take great care and effort to make them perfectly straight and even.
Therefore, to exaggerate in praising the evenness and straightness of something, they would say,
"This thing is so even and so straight that it can serve as a standard and measure for straightening arrows."
Benefits and Issues:
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) would straighten and align the rows to such an extent that no person would be even slightly ahead or behind.
After a long period of continuous effort and training, when he (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was satisfied that the people had understood the importance and method of straightening the rows, he (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) discontinued this particular attention. But after that, one day he (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) noticed negligence in this matter by one person, so he said in a tone of great majesty:
"O servants of Allah! I warn you,
if you show carelessness and negligence in straightening and aligning the rows, then Allah, as a punishment for this, will disfigure your faces,
and your appearances will be changed, or your unity and togetherness will be torn apart, and division and discord will arise among you, which is one of the many punishments in this world for nations and communities."
Negligence and heedlessness in straightening and aligning the rows has now become widespread, and as a punishment, division, discord, and disunity in the Ummah are also at their peak.

English Commentary:
1:
"Keep the rows straight" means that the shoulder of one worshipper should be joined with the shoulder of the next, and his foot should be joined with the foot of the next.

2:
The literal translation is "He will create discord among your faces," which means that He will sow division among you, your unity will be shattered, and your dignity and grandeur will be lost. Or it may mean that He will turn your faces towards the back of your heads and distort them.

Benefits and Issues

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

Answer: The importance of arranging rows in congregational prayer is very great. 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 the 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 narrated 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 narrated 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 excellence of the prayer, and this is a command from the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. If the rows are not straightened properly, then deficiency will necessarily occur in the prayer. Straightening the rows and making them straight is not only necessary in bowing (ruku‘), but is essential from the very standing (qiyam). The Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam would first straighten the rows, then begin the prayer. If there was any deficiency in the row, he sallallahu alayhi wa sallam would correct it.

It is narrated from Hazrat Nu‘man bin Bashir radi Allahu anhu 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, so he said: “Straighten your rows, or Allah will cause discord among your faces.” In some narrations, instead of “faces,” “hearts” is 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 rows 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 before starting the prayer. But unfortunately, the Imams of mosques today 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 close the gaps and be gentle in the hands of your brothers and do not leave any space for Satan, and whoever joins a row, Allah will join him, and whoever cuts off a 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 declared it 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 closed and there should be no empty space between two men. 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 stick 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 behaving 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 said this three times). By Allah, you will certainly straighten your rows, or Allah will cause discord among your hearts.’ The companion says: ‘Then I saw that a worshipper would join 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 establish the row in prayer.”

It is narrated from Salih bin Kaysan 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 close 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 closed. It is the duty of the Imam to straighten the rows. Every worshipper should join his shoulder to the shoulder of his brother and his foot to the foot of his brother and be gentle in the hand of his brother. When the row is straightened, then the Imam should start the prayer, and this action begins from the standing (qiyam) itself. It should not be that there is a gap between the shoulders and feet in standing, and joining is started 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 behave like a wild mule when joining the feet. By joining the feet and closing the gaps, the worshipper becomes deserving of reward from Allah, as has been mentioned above. May Allah grant us the ability to act correctly and protect us from all kinds of excess and negligence.

662. Commentary:
➊ In this hadith, the Companion of the Messenger, Hazrat Nu'man bin Bashir radi Allahu anhu, clarified the explanation of the Prophet's sallallahu alayhi wa sallam command by stating that the noble Companions radi Allahu anhum used to stand in the rows closely joined together, such that no gap remained, nor any crookedness.
➋ The result of turning away from the Shari'ah teachings manifests in the form of "mutual discord and hatred" ... as we are witnessing. «اعاذنا الله منه»
➌ It is also understood that the matter of the heart is connected to the apparent limbs and actions; if the outward actions are correct, then the heart also remains correct, and conversely, it has also been mentioned that if the heart is correct, then the rest of the body remains correct.
➍ The imam should, by reviving this Sunnah, emphasize to the worshippers before the opening takbir (takbir tahrimah) that they should stand joined together. In fact, he should practically straighten the rows.

811. Commentary:

➊ If an arrow is not straight, it cannot hit the target; therefore, arrows are properly straightened with a clamp. In the same way, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) would arrange the rows with full attention and care, because the rectification of the rows is, in reality, the rectification of the entire ummah.

➋ Otherwise, Allah, the Exalted, will place discord among your faces. This sentence has various meanings: Allah, the Exalted, will turn your faces to the back; He will distort your faces, disfigure them; He will create discord among you, so that each person will turn in whichever direction he wishes and go that way. And this last meaning appears to be closest to what is correct. And Allah knows best.

Benefit:
There are some apparent causes of unity and discord within a community, and there are also some spiritual causes, which common people are not aware of. Among the causes of discord is the failure to keep the rows straight during prayer (salah). On the other hand, straightening the rows creates unity and love in the hearts. Therefore, the imams should pay special attention to this matter, and the followers (muqtadis) should also give special attention to keeping the rows straight and standing together.