This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Hussain bin Mubarak Al-Mawsili's Arabic book Al-Awamer wal-Nawahi, which has been translated into Urdu by Muhammad Sarwar Gohar Sahib under the title Ahkamat o Mamnoaat.
① Sayyiduna Nu'man bin Bashir رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم turned his blessed face towards the people and said:
أقيموا صفوفكم ثلاثا ، والله لتقيمن صفوفكم أو ليخالفن الله بين قلوبكم
"Straighten your rows. He said this three times. By Allah! Straighten your rows or Allah will cause discord between your hearts."
Reference: Abu Dawood, Kitab al-Salat 662. The narration is authentic. Ibn Hibban 2173, excellent.
② Sayyiduna Ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما narrates that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
أقيموا الصفوف و حاذوا بين المناكب و سدوا الخلل ، ولينوا بأيدي إخوانكم ، ولا تذروا فرجات للشيطان ، ومن وصل صفا وصله الله ، ومن قطعه قطعه الله
"Straighten the rows, join the shoulders, close the gaps, be gentle in the hands of your brothers, do not leave a gap for Satan. Whoever joins the row, Allah will join him, and whoever breaks it, Allah will break him."
Reference: Abu Dawood, Kitab al-Salat 666. An-Nasa'i, Kitab al-Imamah 2/93. Musnad Ahmad, first Musnad of the Kufis 2/98. The narration is authentic.
③ Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
لو يعلم الناس ما فى النداء والصف الأول ثم لم يجدوا إلا أن يستهموا عليه لاستهموا
"If people knew the virtue of the Adhan and the first row, and then (to obtain it) there was no other way except casting lots, they would cast lots."
Reference: Bukhari, Kitab al-Adhan 615. Muslim, Kitab al-Salat 437.
④ Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه also narrates that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
لو تعلمون ما فى الصف الأول لكانت قرعة
"If you knew the virtue of the first row, casting lots would take place."
Reference: Muslim, Kitab al-Salat 439.
⑤ Sayyiduna Bara' رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم would move from one side of the rows to the other, touching our chests and shoulders and saying:
لا تختلفوا فتختلف قلوبكم
"Do not create separation among yourselves, otherwise your hearts will differ."
The narrator says that the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم used to say:
إن الله وملائكته يصلون على الصف الأول
"Allah and His angels send mercy upon the first row."
Reference: This narration is authentic. Abu Dawood, Kitab al-Salat 664. An-Nasa'i, Kitab al-Imamah 2/89, 90.
⑥ Sayyiduna Arbad bin Sariyah رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم:
أن رسول الله كان يصلي على الصف الأول ثلاثا ، و على الثاني واحدة
The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم would supplicate blessings three times for the first row and once for the second row.
Reference: This narration is authentic. An-Nasa'i, Kitab al-Imamah 2/92, 93. Ibn Majah, Kitab Iqamat al-Salat wa Sunnah Fiha 996. Ibn Khuzaymah 3/27.
⑦ Sayyiduna Jabir bin Samurah رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم came out and said:
ألا تصفون كما تصف الملائكة عند ربها؟
"Why do you not form rows as the angels form rows before their Lord?"
We said, O Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم! How do the angels form rows before their Lord? He صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
يتمون الصفوف الأول ويتراصون فى الصف
"First, they complete the first rows and stand closely together in the first row."
Reference: Muslim, Kitab al-Salat 438. Abu Dawood 680. An-Nasa'i, Kitab al-Masajid 730 2/83. Ibn Majah 992.
① Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
إن الله وملائكته يصلون على ميامن الصفوف
"Allah and His angels send blessings upon those who stand on the right side of the rows."
Reference: This narration is Hasan. Abu Dawood, Book of Prayer 686. Ibn Majah, Book of Establishing Prayer and its Sunnah 1000. Ibn Hajar has classified it as Hasan in Fath al-Bari. 213/2.
② Sayyiduna Bara’ (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that when we prayed behind the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), we preferred to be on his right side. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) would turn his blessed face towards us. I heard him say:
رب قني عذابك يوم تبعث عبادك
"My Lord! On the Day You will raise Your servants, save me from Your punishment on that day."
Reference: Muslim, Book of Traveler’s Prayer and Shortening It 709. Abu Dawood, Book of Prayer 615. An-Nasa’i, Book of Imamate 94/2. Ibn Majah, Book of Establishing Prayer and its Sunnah 1006.
