Source: Shaykh Abū Ḥudhayfah Muḥammad Jāwīd Salafī – Āʾīnah Tawḥīd wa Sunnat: Jawāb Shirk kyā hai maʿa Ḥaqīqat-i Bidʿat
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"Straighten your rows in prayer, for indeed straightening the rows is part of perfecting the prayer."
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Adhān, Bāb: Iqāmat al-Ṣaff min Tamām al-Ṣalāh – Hadith: 722)
In another ḥadīth, the Prophet ﷺ said:
"Straighten your rows, align your shoulders, fill the gaps, be gentle with the hands of your brothers, and do not leave spaces for Shayṭān."
(Abū Dāwūd, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Bāb: Taswiyat al-Ṣufūf – Hadith: 666)
❖ Sayyidunā al-Barāʾ bin ʿĀzib رضي الله عنه said:
"Before the prayer, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would walk between the rows from one end to the other, aligning our chests and shoulders with his hands."
(Abū Dāwūd: 664, al-Nasa’i: 812)
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon those who join the rows, and whoever fills a gap in the row, Allah raises him in status thereby."
(Ibn Mājah, Kitāb Iqāmat al-Ṣalāh, Bāb: Iqāmat al-Ṣufūf – Hadith: 995)
❖ Nuʿmān bin Bashīr رضي الله عنه said:
"I saw a man among us sticking his ankle to the ankle of his companion."
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Bāb: al-Ilsāq bi al-Mankib – Hadith: 7265)
❖ Sayyidunā Anas رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"Straighten your rows, for I see you from behind my back."
He added:
"Each of us would place his shoulder next to his companion’s shoulder, and his foot next to his companion’s foot."
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Adhān – Hadith: 725)
ʿUmar رضي الله عنه appointed individuals to ensure that rows were properly aligned.
He would not begin the prayer until he was informed that the rows had been correctly set.
(Tirmidhī, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Bāb: Mā Jāʾa fī Iqāmat al-Ṣufūf – Commentary after Hadith: 227)
Reflect upon this:
Are the rows in our masājid—of those who claim to follow the Sunnah—in accordance with the prophetic guidance and the practice of the Companions رضي الله عنهم?
Or do they contradict the Sunnah?
Let each one of us examine ourselves in the mirror of the Sunnah.
"He who errs in obeying the Prophet ﷺ—where will that unjust, heedless one go?"
➤ Tawḥīd is the root of a Muslim’s faith—without it, one cannot be a true believer.
➤ Success lies in following the Messenger ﷺ—entry to Paradise is impossible without it.
➤ Practicing Sharīʿah (i.e., the Qur’ān and Sunnah) is the source of peace.
➤ Following ignorance leads to destruction.
➤ Unity is a hallmark of Muslims, while stubbornness upon falsehood is the trait of the accursed Shayṭān.
➤ The one who truly reaches the destination is the one who sincerely seeks the path of truth.
❖ Topic:
◈ The Prophet ﷺ Emphasized Straightening Rows:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"Straighten your rows in prayer, for indeed straightening the rows is part of perfecting the prayer."
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Adhān, Bāb: Iqāmat al-Ṣaff min Tamām al-Ṣalāh – Hadith: 722)
In another ḥadīth, the Prophet ﷺ said:
"Straighten your rows, align your shoulders, fill the gaps, be gentle with the hands of your brothers, and do not leave spaces for Shayṭān."
(Abū Dāwūd, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Bāb: Taswiyat al-Ṣufūf – Hadith: 666)
◈ The Prophet ﷺ Corrected the Rows with His Own Hands:
❖ Sayyidunā al-Barāʾ bin ʿĀzib رضي الله عنه said:
"Before the prayer, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would walk between the rows from one end to the other, aligning our chests and shoulders with his hands."
(Abū Dāwūd: 664, al-Nasa’i: 812)
◈ Excellence of Closing the Gaps:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon those who join the rows, and whoever fills a gap in the row, Allah raises him in status thereby."
(Ibn Mājah, Kitāb Iqāmat al-Ṣalāh, Bāb: Iqāmat al-Ṣufūf – Hadith: 995)
◈ Joining Shoulders and Feet is Part of the Sunnah:
❖ Nuʿmān bin Bashīr رضي الله عنه said:
"I saw a man among us sticking his ankle to the ankle of his companion."
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Bāb: al-Ilsāq bi al-Mankib – Hadith: 7265)
❖ Sayyidunā Anas رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"Straighten your rows, for I see you from behind my back."
He added:
"Each of us would place his shoulder next to his companion’s shoulder, and his foot next to his companion’s foot."
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Adhān – Hadith: 725)
◈ Practice of ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه:
ʿUmar رضي الله عنه appointed individuals to ensure that rows were properly aligned.
He would not begin the prayer until he was informed that the rows had been correctly set.
(Tirmidhī, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Bāb: Mā Jāʾa fī Iqāmat al-Ṣufūf – Commentary after Hadith: 227)
Reflection:
Reflect upon this:
Are the rows in our masājid—of those who claim to follow the Sunnah—in accordance with the prophetic guidance and the practice of the Companions رضي الله عنهم?
Or do they contradict the Sunnah?
Let each one of us examine ourselves in the mirror of the Sunnah.
"He who errs in obeying the Prophet ﷺ—where will that unjust, heedless one go?"
❖ Final Advice:
➤ Tawḥīd is the root of a Muslim’s faith—without it, one cannot be a true believer.
➤ Success lies in following the Messenger ﷺ—entry to Paradise is impossible without it.
➤ Practicing Sharīʿah (i.e., the Qur’ān and Sunnah) is the source of peace.
➤ Following ignorance leads to destruction.
➤ Unity is a hallmark of Muslims, while stubbornness upon falsehood is the trait of the accursed Shayṭān.
➤ The one who truly reaches the destination is the one who sincerely seeks the path of truth.
