Author: Muhammad Zubair Sadiq Abadi
The proper alignment of rows by congregants in prayer is established through authentic Hadiths.
❀ It is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:“Straighten your rows and stand close to each other.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Page 100, Hadith 719]
Waheed al-Zaman Kairanwi Deobandi writes: Taraasat al-Ashya means "to be united and joined together."
[Al-Qamus Al-Wahid, Page 631]
❀ In another narration from Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), it is stated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:“Straighten your rows and keep them close together and align your necks, for by Him in Whose hand is the soul of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)! I see the devils entering through the gaps in the row as if they are small lambs.” [Sunan an-Nasa'i, Volume 2, Page 92, Hadith 816, and its chain is authentic; authenticated by Ibn Khuzaymah: 545, Ibn Hibban, Al-Ihsan: 2163, second version: 2166]
The narrator of this Hadith, Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), says:"Each one of us would join our shoulders with the shoulder of his companion and his feet with his feet."
[Sahih al-Bukhari: 725]
Mocking this Hadith, Master Muhammad Amin Okadvi Hayati Deobandi writes:Imam Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) has narrated a saying of Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him). Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) was a child during the Prophet's (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) time and stood in the back rows. Imam Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) did not narrate this saying completely. His teacher Abu Bakr ibn Abi Shaybah narrated it further: "If you try to do that today, you will see them behaving like wild mules." [Volume 1, Page 351] It is obvious that a sensible adult does not like a child.
Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated what he did as a child with the other children, but when he grew up, the Companions and the followers were annoyed with his childish habit. It is clear from this that joining ankles is neither a Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) nor a Sunnah of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). If it were a Sunnah and preferable, the Companions and the followers would never have been annoyed by it. (Amin Okadvi) [Footnote by Amin Okadvi on Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Page 370, printed by Maktaba Madina Lahore]
Note:
In the printed version, the word "childishness" is written twice, while the correct word appears to be "childishness."
The summary of Okadvi's remarks is as follows:
The narration presented by Okadvi from Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah is narrated with the chain of Humayd from Anas. [Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Volume 1, Page 351, Hadith 3524]? "Humayd bin Anas" is incorrect. The correct chain is "Humayd from Anas."
◈ Ismaili has also narrated this with the chain of "Humayd said Anas." See: Fath al-Bari [Volume 2, Page 211, under Hadith 725]◈ Humayd al-Taweel is a third-tier mudallis. [Tabaqat al-Mudallisin, 3/71]◈ Aini Hanafi has also acknowledged his tadlis. [See: Umdat al-Qari, Volume 1, Page 280, under Hadith 49]◈ Humayd's narration with "an" is not explicit in hearing; therefore, this chain is weak.
✔ Okadvi himself states:"A narration by a mudallis with 'an' is considered disconnected." [Tajalliyat Safdar, Volume 2, Page 78, published by Jamia Ishaat al-Uloom al-Hanafiyyah, Faisalabad, First Edition, 1998 CE]
? If Imam Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) has rejected this saying, there is no need to be upset; this saying is not even established. In translating this weak narration, Okadvi has committed dishonesty by inserting (Companions and followers) in brackets. These bracketed words are baseless, incorrect, and tantamount to insulting the Companions.
? It is submitted that the method that was prevalent during the Prophet's time and "each person used to do this" has a clear proof, so why was this method abandoned due to a weak narration?
Anwar Khurshid Deobandi writes at the end of this discussion: "Also, non-conformists should align their necks too, as it is also mentioned in the Hadith of Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him)..."
[Hadith and Ahl al-Hadith, Page 519]
? It is submitted that there is no Hadith on the face of the earth about aligning necks in row alignment. Secondly, what does he mean by "non-conformists"?◈ Ashraf Ali Thanwi Deobandi states:"Because Imam Azam Abu Hanifa (may Allah have mercy on him) was definitely a non-conformist." [Majalis Hakim al-Ummat, Page 345]
? Thanwi's statement shows that Abu Hanifa (may Allah have mercy on him) was a non-conformist. If Anwar Khurshid refers to Imam Abu Hanifa (may Allah have mercy on him) as a non-conformist, it is submitted that we will not tolerate any disrespect towards Imam Abu Hanifa (may Allah have mercy on him). If he refers to "Ahl al-Hadith" by non-conformists, it is submitted that our attribute name is Ahl al-Hadith, not non-conformists. Alhamdulillah.
◈ Muhammad Palin Haqqani Gujarati Deobandi writes:"It is a matter of great shame that in our times some people have become involved in disputes, hatred, jealousy, and sectarianism for their self-interest, calling others derogatory terms like Lahabi, Wahhabi, innovator, misguided, disbeliever, non-conformist, etc. Such people are self-serving. They have no concern for the religion and the ruin of Muslims." [Shariat or Jahalat, Page 108, published by Maktaba Khalil, Al-Wahab Market 38, Urdu Bazaar Lahore]
? This book is certified by Muhammad Zakariya Tablighi and Abu al-Hasan Nadwi. Therefore, it is established that Zakariya, Nadwi, and Palin Haqqani consider Anwar Khurshid self-serving and unconcerned about the ruin of Islam and Muslims.
Strong Warning:
Some people stand in rows leaving a gap of four inches or more. There is no evidence for this in the Quran, Hadith, consensus, or traditions. This is not row alignment but "row cutting." The Hadith says that the one who cuts the row, Allah will cut him off. [See Sunan Abi Dawood: 666 and its chain is good, authenticated by Ibn Khuzaymah: 1549 and Al-Hakim on the condition of Muslim 213/1, and agreed by Al-Dhahabi]
Wa ma alayna illa al-balag
The proper alignment of rows by congregants in prayer is established through authentic Hadiths.
❀ It is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:“Straighten your rows and stand close to each other.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Page 100, Hadith 719]
Waheed al-Zaman Kairanwi Deobandi writes: Taraasat al-Ashya means "to be united and joined together."
[Al-Qamus Al-Wahid, Page 631]
❀ In another narration from Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), it is stated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:“Straighten your rows and keep them close together and align your necks, for by Him in Whose hand is the soul of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)! I see the devils entering through the gaps in the row as if they are small lambs.” [Sunan an-Nasa'i, Volume 2, Page 92, Hadith 816, and its chain is authentic; authenticated by Ibn Khuzaymah: 545, Ibn Hibban, Al-Ihsan: 2163, second version: 2166]
The narrator of this Hadith, Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), says:"Each one of us would join our shoulders with the shoulder of his companion and his feet with his feet."
[Sahih al-Bukhari: 725]
Mocking this Hadith, Master Muhammad Amin Okadvi Hayati Deobandi writes:Imam Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) has narrated a saying of Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him). Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) was a child during the Prophet's (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) time and stood in the back rows. Imam Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) did not narrate this saying completely. His teacher Abu Bakr ibn Abi Shaybah narrated it further: "If you try to do that today, you will see them behaving like wild mules." [Volume 1, Page 351] It is obvious that a sensible adult does not like a child.
Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated what he did as a child with the other children, but when he grew up, the Companions and the followers were annoyed with his childish habit. It is clear from this that joining ankles is neither a Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) nor a Sunnah of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). If it were a Sunnah and preferable, the Companions and the followers would never have been annoyed by it. (Amin Okadvi) [Footnote by Amin Okadvi on Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Page 370, printed by Maktaba Madina Lahore]
Note:
In the printed version, the word "childishness" is written twice, while the correct word appears to be "childishness."
The summary of Okadvi's remarks is as follows:
- According to Okadvi, Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) was an immature child during the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).
- According to Okadvi, the Companions and the followers were annoyed with Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him).
- According to Okadvi, Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) compared the Companions and the followers to mules.
- According to Okadvi, Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) stood in the back rows.
- According to Okadvi, Imam Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) did not narrate the complete saying of Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him).
- According to Okadvi, joining ankles is not the Sunnah of the Companions.
- According to Okadvi, Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) was an immature child during the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).❀ Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) himself states:"The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) came to Medina when I was ten years old, and when he passed away, I was twenty years old." [Sahih Muslim, Book of Drinks, Chapter 17, Hadith 2029/125, and Darussalam numbering: 2590, and the lesson version, Volume 2, Page 174]
- According to Okadvi, the Companions and the followers were annoyed with Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him).? Okadvi has not provided any evidence for the Companions and the followers being annoyed, so this is his second lie in this writing.
The narration presented by Okadvi from Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah is narrated with the chain of Humayd from Anas. [Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Volume 1, Page 351, Hadith 3524]? "Humayd bin Anas" is incorrect. The correct chain is "Humayd from Anas."
◈ Ismaili has also narrated this with the chain of "Humayd said Anas." See: Fath al-Bari [Volume 2, Page 211, under Hadith 725]◈ Humayd al-Taweel is a third-tier mudallis. [Tabaqat al-Mudallisin, 3/71]◈ Aini Hanafi has also acknowledged his tadlis. [See: Umdat al-Qari, Volume 1, Page 280, under Hadith 49]◈ Humayd's narration with "an" is not explicit in hearing; therefore, this chain is weak.
✔ Okadvi himself states:"A narration by a mudallis with 'an' is considered disconnected." [Tajalliyat Safdar, Volume 2, Page 78, published by Jamia Ishaat al-Uloom al-Hanafiyyah, Faisalabad, First Edition, 1998 CE]
? If Imam Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) has rejected this saying, there is no need to be upset; this saying is not even established. In translating this weak narration, Okadvi has committed dishonesty by inserting (Companions and followers) in brackets. These bracketed words are baseless, incorrect, and tantamount to insulting the Companions.
- According to Okadvi, Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) compared the Companions and the followers to mules.? Okadvi has not provided any evidence for this. It is submitted that even if this weak and rejected narration were correct, "one of them" would not mean the Companions or the trustworthy followers, but rather those unknown individuals who prayed contrary to the Sunnah. From the Companions, it is established that they joined their feet and shoulders in the row. (may Allah be pleased with them)
- According to Okadvi, Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) stood in the back rows.? Okadvi has not provided any evidence for this either. Contrary to Okadvi's claim, it is established that Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) prayed standing immediately behind the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). See: Sahih al-Bukhari [Volume 1, Page 55, Hadith 380] and Sahih Muslim [Volume 1, Page 234, Hadith 658] and the footnoted edition of Sahih al-Bukhari by Amin Okadvi [Volume 1, Page 228, Hadith 371]
- According to Okadvi, Imam Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) did not narrate the complete saying of Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him).? Since this saying is weak in terms of its chain, it is absolutely correct for Imam Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) not to narrate it.
- According to Okadvi, joining ankles is not the Sunnah of the Companions.? It is established from Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) and Sayyiduna Nu'man bin Bashir (may Allah be pleased with him), both Companions, that the Companions used to join their feet and shoulders in the row. See: Sahih al-Bukhari [Volume 1, Page 100] and Sahih Ibn Hibban [Mawarid az-Zam'an: 396] Nothing contrary to this is established from the Companions. Alhamdulillah.
? It is submitted that the method that was prevalent during the Prophet's time and "each person used to do this" has a clear proof, so why was this method abandoned due to a weak narration?
Anwar Khurshid Deobandi writes at the end of this discussion: "Also, non-conformists should align their necks too, as it is also mentioned in the Hadith of Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him)..."
[Hadith and Ahl al-Hadith, Page 519]
? It is submitted that there is no Hadith on the face of the earth about aligning necks in row alignment. Secondly, what does he mean by "non-conformists"?◈ Ashraf Ali Thanwi Deobandi states:"Because Imam Azam Abu Hanifa (may Allah have mercy on him) was definitely a non-conformist." [Majalis Hakim al-Ummat, Page 345]
? Thanwi's statement shows that Abu Hanifa (may Allah have mercy on him) was a non-conformist. If Anwar Khurshid refers to Imam Abu Hanifa (may Allah have mercy on him) as a non-conformist, it is submitted that we will not tolerate any disrespect towards Imam Abu Hanifa (may Allah have mercy on him). If he refers to "Ahl al-Hadith" by non-conformists, it is submitted that our attribute name is Ahl al-Hadith, not non-conformists. Alhamdulillah.
◈ Muhammad Palin Haqqani Gujarati Deobandi writes:"It is a matter of great shame that in our times some people have become involved in disputes, hatred, jealousy, and sectarianism for their self-interest, calling others derogatory terms like Lahabi, Wahhabi, innovator, misguided, disbeliever, non-conformist, etc. Such people are self-serving. They have no concern for the religion and the ruin of Muslims." [Shariat or Jahalat, Page 108, published by Maktaba Khalil, Al-Wahab Market 38, Urdu Bazaar Lahore]
? This book is certified by Muhammad Zakariya Tablighi and Abu al-Hasan Nadwi. Therefore, it is established that Zakariya, Nadwi, and Palin Haqqani consider Anwar Khurshid self-serving and unconcerned about the ruin of Islam and Muslims.
Strong Warning:
Some people stand in rows leaving a gap of four inches or more. There is no evidence for this in the Quran, Hadith, consensus, or traditions. This is not row alignment but "row cutting." The Hadith says that the one who cuts the row, Allah will cut him off. [See Sunan Abi Dawood: 666 and its chain is good, authenticated by Ibn Khuzaymah: 1549 and Al-Hakim on the condition of Muslim 213/1, and agreed by Al-Dhahabi]
Wa ma alayna illa al-balag
