Straightening the row

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Keep your rows level and stand close together, for I see you from behind my back." Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "I have seen each of us join his shoulder to his companion's shoulder and his foot to his foot; and if you tried to do that today, you would see one of them shy away like a restive mule."

Sayyiduna Nu'man bin Bashir (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I saw the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) straightening the rows the way an arrow shaft is straightened. One day he saw a man's chest sticking out of the row, and he said: "Straighten your rows, or else Allah Almighty will put aversion in your hearts towards one another."

Sayyiduna Bara' bin Azib (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Keep your rows straight, lest (the devils) slip into the gaps between you like the young of the hadhaf." Someone asked: "O Messenger of Allah, what are the young of the hadhaf?" He said: "The hadhaf are black, hairless sheep found in Yemen."

Sayyiduna Abu Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: In the prayer the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would touch our shoulders to straighten the rows, and he would say: "Keep the rows straight and do not stand unevenly, or else Allah Almighty will put discord into your hearts. Let those of you who have intelligence and understanding stand closest to me in the prayer, and after them those who are below them in understanding." Sayyiduna Abu Mas'ud said: "Today there is much more discord among you."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Keep the rows straight, for keeping the rows straight is part of the beauty of the prayer."

Hittan bin Abdullah al-Raqashi said: Sayyiduna Abu Musa al-Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him) led us in prayer. When he finished the prayer, he said: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) addressed us, explained our religion to us and taught us how to pray. In that address he said: "When you pray, straighten your rows."

Abu Uthman said: I was among those whom Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) would make stand in front of him to straighten the rows.

Abdullah bin Shaddad said: Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) saw some unevenness in the row, so he gestured with his hand like this (Waki' demonstrated with his hand) and straightened it.

Malik bin Abi Amir said: Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) used to say: "Stand level and keep the shoulders in line, for straightening the rows is part of the completeness of the prayer." Sayyiduna Uthman would not say the opening takbir until the men whom he had appointed to straighten the rows came and informed him.

Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) used to say: "Straighten the rows and your hearts will be straight; stand close together and show mercy to one another."

Suwayd said: Sayyiduna Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) used to align our shoulders and our feet in the prayer.

Sayyiduna Abdullah (bin Mas'ud) (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Keep the rows straight."

Ibrahim said: The predecessors (salaf) used to say: "Keep the rows straight and stand close together, lest the devil slip in among you in the form of young sheep."

Abu Uthman said: I never saw anyone more careful about straightening the rows than Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). Sometimes he would face the qiblah to say the takbir, then turn back and look at our shoulders and feet. Sayyiduna Umar used to send men who would make people stand in the rows.

Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Allah Almighty laughs at three: those who stand in rows for the prayer; the man who fights behind his companions (protecting them); and the one who stands in prayer in the darkness of the night."

Sayyiduna Jabir bin Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Why do you not form rows the way 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) said: "They first complete the front rows, and they stand close together in the rows."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Straighten your rows, and perform your bowing and prostration well."