Nasai

808. Commentary:

➊ It is the duty of the imam to straighten the rows of the followers (muqtadis). He should do it himself or appoint a deputy for this task. If, due to this action, there is a delay between the iqamah and the opening takbir (takbir tahrimah), there is no harm in it.

➋ «لَا تَخْتَلِفُوا» One meaning has been mentioned in the translation. Another meaning is that you should not quarrel among yourselves. Hearts will become estranged from one another. The outward has an effect on the inward as well. When people stand straight and close together, love is created in the hearts. Standing ahead, behind, or far apart creates distance in the hearts. And this is a natural thing; it cannot be denied. Friends sit together, and enemies flee even from each other's shadow.

➌ In the first row, people of knowledge, virtue, and older age should stand. But this does not mean that if a mature, sane youth who is eager and regular in congregation and prayer comes early and sits in the front row, then an elder who comes later should make him get up and take his place. This is both a discouragement to the youth, a violation of rights, and against the Shariah. According to Shariah, whoever comes first and sits in a place, that is his right. The instruction for people of intellect and understanding to stand close to the imam is for encouragement. It does not mean that intelligent youth are not worthy of it. In the second row, those of similar intellect and age to those in the first; in the third, those similar to the second, and so on, until the small children are in the last row—unless there is a risk of mischief from children standing together, in which case they may be made to stand with the elders, but behind the first row.

➍ Today, there is severe discord among you. That is, you stand very far ahead or behind. You break the rows. You do not stand together. The meaning is that today there is much social discord among you. It appears that you do not make your rows straight and correct.

813. Commentary: See Sunan an-Nasa'i, Benefit No. 3, Hadith No. 808.

Hadith Commentary:
Vocabulary of the Hadith:
Al-Ahlam:
This is the plural of hilm,
which means patience,
gentleness,
forbearance.
Sometimes it is used in contrast to ignorance and foolishness,
in which case it means intellect and understanding.
It is mentioned in the Noble Qur’an:
﴿أَمْ تَأْمُرُهُمْ أَحْلَامُهُم بِهٰذَا﴾,
“Do their minds command them to do this?” ()
If it is taken as the plural of hilm, then it will mean maturity (bulugh),
and in this case, a new meaning will arise, because nahi is also the plural of nahiyah, which also means intellect, as it prevents from evil.

Benefits and Issues:
➊
This hadith proves that those who have been granted understanding and wisdom by Allah Ta’ala should stand closest to the imam, then those who are second in this quality,
then those who are third in this quality.
This order is entirely natural and also required by the wisdom of education and training, so that if the imam makes a mistake, they can correct it, and when needed, they can also deputize for the imam.
For this reason, Umar radi Allahu anhu,
Zar ibn Jash and Abu Wa’il radi Allahu anhum used to remove a child from the row.
➋
The addressees of the statement of Abu Mas’ud radi Allahu anhu were those people who were causing discord and mischief, and the reason for this was that they did not observe moderation and alignment (equality) in forming the rows.

Benefits and Issues:

➊
When performing prayer in congregation, the rows of the worshippers should be completely straight.
The worshippers should not be standing ahead of or behind one another.

➋
The imam should pay attention to the rows of the followers (muqtadis).
And he should emphasize to them the importance of keeping the rows straight.

➌
The noble Companions (radi Allahu anhum ajma'in) used to comply with this instruction of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) in such a way that they would stand closely together.
To the extent that shoulder would touch shoulder, foot would touch foot, and ankle would touch ankle. See: (Sahih al-Bukhari, al-Adhan, Chapter: Joining shoulder to shoulder and foot to foot in the row, Hadith: 725 and Sunan Abi Dawud, Prayer, Chapter: Straightening the rows, Hadith: 662)

➍
If the rows are crooked and the worshippers stand apart from one another, it becomes a cause for discord and disputes.
By standing together in this manner, mutual love is created.
And differences are eliminated.
Therefore, attention and diligence should be given to acting upon this Sunnah.

➎
In the front rows, elderly individuals and people of knowledge should stand.
After them, the youth and those with relatively less knowledge should stand.
Then the children, and finally, the row of women should be at the end.

➏
The youth should respect the position and dignity of the elders.