Question
Our Imam places great emphasis on straightening the rows before prayer. What is the importance of this?
Answer
The importance of lining up in congregational prayer is very great. Straightening the rows is part of establishing the prayer (Iqamat as-Salah), as narrated from Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
سَوُّوا صُفُوفَكُمْ فَإِنَّ تَسْوِيَةَ الصُّفُوفِ مِنْ إِقَامَةِ الصَّلَاةِ
“Straighten the rows, indeed straightening the rows is part of establishing the prayer.”
Similarly, in another narration, these words are mentioned:
سووا صفوفكم فان تسوية الصف من تمام الصلاة
“Straighten the rows, indeed straightening the rows is part of completing the prayer.”
From this hadith, it is understood that the straightening of the rows is from the establishment of the prayer and from the entirety of the prayer, and their crookedness causes loss in the prayer.
It is narrated from Sayyidina Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
اَقِيْمُوا الصَّفَّ فِي الصَّلَاةِ فَاِنَّ اِقَامَةَ الصَّفِّ مِنْ حُسْنِ الصَّلَاةِ
“Establish the rows in prayer, indeed establishing the row is part of the beauty of the prayer.”
It is narrated from Sayyidina Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
اَحْسِنُوْا اِقَامَةَ الصُّفُوْفِ فِي الصَّلَاةِ
“Straighten the rows well in the prayer.”
Allama Nasiruddin Al-Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) declared this hadith authentic.
From these authentic hadiths, it is also understood that keeping the row correct and straight is part of the beauty and perfection of the prayer, and this command was given by the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). If the rows are not straight, then loss will inevitably occur in the prayer.
The straightening and alignment of the rows is necessary and essential not only during the bowing (ruku) but from the very beginning of standing (qiyam). The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ used to straighten the rows first and then start the prayer. If there was any defect in the rows, he ﷺ would correct it.
It is narrated from Hazrat Nu’man bin Bashir رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to straighten the rows until they resembled a spear or an arrow. Once, when he ﷺ saw a man’s chest protruding forward, he said:
“Straighten your rows, otherwise Allah will put discord between your faces.” In some narrations, instead of faces, hearts are mentioned.
Sayyiduna Bara’ bin Azib رضي الله عنه says:
“The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم would walk from one corner to the other in the rows. He صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم would touch our chests and shoulders and say: ‘Do not differ, your hearts will differ.’ And he used to say: ‘Indeed, Allah Almighty and His angels send blessings upon the first rows.'”
In Zawaid Ibn Majah, it is mentioned that the chain of narration of Sayyiduna Bara’ bin Azib رضي الله عنه‘s hadith is authentic and all its narrators are trustworthy.
From these authentic hadiths, it is understood that the alignment of the rows should be done before starting the prayer, and it is also understood that it is the Imam’s duty to straighten the rows. If there is any disruption in the row, he should correct it before starting the prayer. But unfortunately, the Imams of mosques today are not paying attention to this matter. The prayer is started immediately after the call for iqamah. The rows are not straightened. In prayer, every person should stand in such a way that their shoulder is aligned with the shoulder of the person next to them, and their feet are fully aligned with the feet of the person next to them, with no gap in between, because the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, commanded to avoid gaps.
Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar رضي الله عنهما said:
“Indeed, the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said: Arrange the rows properly, align the shoulders and arms, close the gaps, be gentle with the hands of your brothers, and do not leave any space for Satan. Whoever joins the row, Allah will join him, and whoever breaks the row, Allah will cut him off (from His mercy).”
Imam Hakim رحمه الله and Imam Dhahabi رحمه الله declared it authentic according to Muslim’s criteria, and Allama Albani رحمه الله also declared this narration authentic.
Imam Mundhiri رحمه الله, while explaining the word “Farajat” in this hadith, wrote:
الْفُرُجَاتُ جَمْعُ فُرْجَةٍ وَهِيَ الْمَكَانُ الْخَالِيْ بَيْنَ الْاِثْنَيْنِ
“The word Farajat is plural and it means the empty space between two people.”
From this hadith, it is understood that gaps in the row should be closed and there should be no empty space between two people. Therefore, those who leave a distance of four fingers or more between two worshippers, their action is not correct, and they should correct themselves.
Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
لَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ اَحَدَنَا يُلْزِقُ مَنْكِبَهُ بِمَنْكِبِ صَاحِبِهِ وَقَدَمَهُ بِقَدَمِهِ وَلَوْ ذَهَبَتْ تَفْعَلُ ذٰلِكَ لَتَرَيٰ اَحَدَهُمْ كَاَنَّهُ بَغْلٌ شُمُوْسٌ
“I saw that each of us would press his shoulder against the shoulder of his companion and his foot against the foot of his companion, and if today someone does this with another, you will see that each of them looks as if he is a wicked donkey.”
Hazrat Nu’man bin Bashir رضي الله عنه says:
“The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم turned towards the people and said: ‘Straighten your rows’ (this was said three times by the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم). By Allah, you will surely straighten your rows, otherwise Allah will put discord between your hearts.” The companion says: “Then I saw that the worshipper would join his shoulder and arm with the shoulder and arm of his companion, his knee with his companion’s knee, and his ankle with his companion’s ankle.”
Abu Uthman al-Nahdi says:
كُنْتُ فِيْمَنْ ضَرَبَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَدَمَهُ لِإِقَامَةِ الصَّفِّ فِي الصَّلَاةِ
“I was among those whom Hazrat Umar bin al-Khattab رضي الله عنه struck on the feet to straighten the rows in prayer.”
It is narrated from Salih bin Kaysan that Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) used to say:
لَاَنْ يَّخِرَّ ثِنْتَايَ اَحَبُّ اِلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ أَرٰي فِي الصَّفِّ خَلَاءً وَلَا اَسُدُّهُ
“I prefer that two of my teeth break rather than see a gap in the row and not close it.”
From the above authentic and excellent hadiths, it is understood that when starting the prayer, the rows should first be straightened. If there is any gap in the row, it should be closed. It is the duty of the Imam to ensure the rows are straightened. Every worshiper should align their shoulder with their brother’s shoulder and their foot with their brother’s foot, and be gentle with their brother’s hand. When the row is straightened, the Imam should start the prayer, and this action begins with the standing (Qiyam). It is not correct that during standing there is a gap between shoulders and feet, and only in bowing (Ruku) they start joining. Similarly, not just one toe but the entire foot should be joined as the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) used to do, and by joining the feet one should not be restless like a mischievous donkey. By joining the feet and closing the gaps, the worshiper becomes deserving of reward from Allah Almighty, as mentioned above. May Allah grant us the ability to perform the correct actions and protect us from all kinds of excess and negligence.
