Men following a man with boys and women with them

(a) Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) says that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Let those of sound understanding stand close to me, then those who are like them," saying it three times, and he said: "Beware of making noise in the markets."
(b) In the narration of Muhammad, which he narrates from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "Let those of understanding stand close to me, then those who are like them, then those who are like them; and do not differ, or your hearts will come to differ. Beware of raising noise in the markets."

Sayyiduna Abu Mas'ud al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) says that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to touch our shoulders in prayer and say: "Do not differ, or your hearts will come to differ; and let those of you who have understanding stand behind me, then those who are like them, then those who are like them."

Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) says that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) liked the Muhajirun and the Ansar to be close to him in prayer, so that they could learn the prayer from him (peace and blessings be upon him).

Yazid bin Zuray' also narrated it through Humayd from Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him), that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to (like this), with the same meaning.

Abu Malik al-Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him) says: Shall I not describe to you the prayer of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)? Then he said: When the iqamah for prayer was given, the men would form a row, and after them the boys would form a row; then he (peace and blessings be upon him) would lead them in prayer. When he (peace and blessings be upon him) prostrated and when he raised his head from prostration, he would say 'Allahu akbar' (Allah is the Greatest), and when he stood up after two rak'ahs he would say 'Allahu akbar' (Allah is the Greatest); then he would give salam to the right and to the left. Then he said: "This is how the prayer is." Abd al-A'la (may Allah have mercy on him) says: I think he said: This is the prayer of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).

Sayyiduna Abu Malik al-Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him) says that next to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in prayer were first the men, then the boys, then the women.
This chain is weak, and the first one is stronger; and Allah knows best.

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The best row of the men is the first and the last row is the worst; and the worst row of the women is the first and the best row is the last."

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) says that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The best row of the men is the first and the worst row is the last; and the best row of the women is the last and the worst row is the first."