Chapter: Straightening The Rows; The Virtue Of The Front Row And Then The Next; Competing With One Another For The Front Row; The People Of Virtue Should Take Precedence And Be Closest To The Imam
Abu Mas'ud reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) (may peace he upon him) used to touch our shoulders in prayer and say: Keep straight, don't be irregular, for there would be dissension in your hearts. Let those of you who are sedate and prudent be near me, then those who are next to them, then those who are next to them. Abu Mas'ud said: Now-a-days there is much dissension amongst you.
'Abdullah bin Mas'ud reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Let those who are sedate and prudent be near me, then those who are next to them (saying it three times), and beware of the tumult of the markets.
Anas bin Malik (RA) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Straighten your rows. for the straightening of a row is a part of the perfection of prayer.
Hammam bin Munabbih reported: This is what was transmitted to us by Abu Hurairah (RA) from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and, while making a mention of a few ahadith, said: (The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) directed us thus): Establish rows in prayer, for the making of a row (straight) is one of the merits of prayer.
Nu'man bin Bashir reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) (may peace-be upon him) used to straighten our rows as if he were straightening an arrow with their help until be saw that we had learnt it from him. One day he came out, stood up (for prayer) and was about to say: Allah is the Greatest, when he saw a man, whose chest was bulging out from the row, so he said: Servants of Allah, you should straighten your rows or Allah would create dissension amongst you.
Abu Hurairah (RA) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: If the people were to know what excellence is there in the Adhan and in the first row, and they could not (get these opportunities) except by drawing lots, they would have definitely done that. And if they were to know what excellence lies in joining the prayer in the first takbir (prayer), they would have vied with one another. And if they were to know what excellence lies in the night prayer and morning prayer, they would have definitely come even if crawling (on their knees).
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saw (a tendency) among his Companions to go to the back, so he said to them: Come forward and follow my lead, and let those who come after you follow your lead. People will continue to keep back till Allah will put them at the back.
Abu Hurairah (RA) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: If you were to know, or if they were to know, what (excellence) lies in the first rows, there would have been drawing of lots (for filling them); and Ibn Harb said: For (occupying) the first row there would have been drawing of lots.
Abu Hurairah (RA) said: The best rows for men are the first rows, and the worst ones the last ones, and the best rows for women are the last ones and the worst ones for them are the first ones.