Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

It is narrated from Hazrat Anas that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Keep moderation in the rows and stand close together; I see you from behind my back." Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) says: "We used to stand in prayer in such a way that our shoulder would touch the shoulder of the next person and our foot would touch the foot of the next person. When people abandoned this precaution, they began to look like unruly mules."

Hazrat Nu’man bin Bashir narrates that I saw the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) straightening the rows just as an arrow is straightened. One day, he saw a man whose chest was protruding ahead of the row, so he said: “Straighten your rows, or Allah will create discord among your hearts.”

Hazrat Bara bin Azib narrates that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Keep your rows straight and do not be ahead or behind like the young ones of Hadhf." Someone asked, "O Messenger of Allah! What are the young ones of Hadhf?" He replied, "Hadhf is a black and hairless sheep found in Yemen."

Hazrat Abu Mas'ud narrates that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, would touch our shoulders with his hand during prayer to straighten the rows and would say: "Keep the rows straight, do not stand ahead or behind, otherwise Allah the Exalted will create discord among your hearts." Those among you who are possessed of intellect and understanding should stand close to me in prayer, and after them, those who are lesser than them in understanding should stand. Hazrat Abu Mas'ud says that today, your great differences are due to not straightening the rows.

It is narrated from Hazrat Anas that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Keep the rows straight, for keeping the rows straight is a beauty of prayer."

Hazrat Hattan bin Abdullah Raqashi narrates that Hazrat Abu Musa Ash'ari led us in prayer. When the prayer was finished, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) delivered a sermon in which he explained the religion to us and taught us the method of prayer. In this address, he said, "When you pray, straighten your rows."

Hazrat Abu Usman says that I was among those people whom Hazrat Umar used to make stand in front of him to straighten the rows.

Hazrat Abdullah bin Shaddad narrates that Hazrat Umar saw a man standing ahead in the row, so he gestured with his hand for him to move back.

Hazrat Malik bin Abi Aamir said that that Hazrat Usman used to say: "Stand in straight rows and level your shoulders, for the perfection of the prayer is in the straightening of the rows." Hazrat Usman would not say the Takbeer-e-Tahreema until the person appointed by him to straighten the rows would come and inform him.

Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) used to say: "Straighten your rows and your hearts will become straight; stand together with one another and have mercy on each other."

Hazrat Suwaid says that Hazrat Bilal used to align our shoulders and our feet during prayer.

Hazrat Abdullah says: Keep the rows straight.

Ibrahim says that the elders used to say: "Keep the rows straight and stand joined together, lest Satan slip in among you in the form of lambs."

Hazrat Abu Uthman says that I have not seen anyone more careful than Hazrat Umar in straightening the rows. Sometimes it would happen that he would face the Qiblah and begin to say the Takbeer, then turn around and look at our shoulders and feet. Hazrat Umar used to send a person who would make people stand in the rows.

Hazrat Abu Saeed narrates that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Allah Almighty smiles at three types of people: first, those who stand in rows for prayer; second, the person who fights ahead of his companions; and third, the one who stands in worship during the darkness of the night.

Hazrat Jabir bin Samurah narrates that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Why do you not form rows as the angels form rows before their Lord?" The people asked, "How do the angels form rows before their Lord?" He, peace and blessings be upon him, replied: "They complete the front rows first and stand close together in the rows."

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Straighten your rows and perform bowing and prostration in a good manner."