Sayyiduna Abu Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to pass his hand over our shoulders (before starting the prayer) and would say: “Do not differ with one another (in straightening the rows) or your hearts will differ. Let those among you who are wise and experienced stand closest to me, then those after them in rank, then those after them in rank.”