Six Clear Evidences on Row Formation According to the Hanafi School
Source: Fatawa ‘Ilmiyyah, Vol. 1, Kitab al-Salah, p. 296
Question:
In Hanafi Fiqh, is there any ruling that a gap should be maintained in prayer rows? Please explain.
Answer:
Wa ‘alaykum as-salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh!
Alhamdulillah, wa-s-salatu wa-s-salamu ‘ala Rasulillah, amma ba‘d:
In Hanafi Fiqh, there is no explicit narration in which Imam Abu Hanifah (رحمه الله) or any Hanafi jurist has stated that:
◈ Worshippers must necessarily keep a gap of four inches or more between themselves in the row.
◈ If someone stands foot-to-foot, his foot should be deliberately crushed, or displeasure should be shown.
No such teaching is transmitted from Imam Abu Hanifah (رحمه الله), nor has any reliable Hanafi jurist mentioned such a thing.
In al-Durr al-Mukhtar (Vol. 1, p. 420) it is written:
"أي يصفهم الامام بأن يأمرهم بذلك، قال الشمني: وينبغي أن يأمرهم بأن يتراصوا ويسدوا الخلل ويسووا مناكبهم"
Translation in Ghayat al-Watar (Vol. 1, p. 296):
"And line them up, meaning the imam should arrange the worshippers’ rows. Al-Shamni said: The imam should instruct them to stand close together, close the gaps between them, and align their shoulders."
According to this statement, it is necessary for followers of the Hanafi school to stand close together during row formation, not to keep a distance.
In the book attributed to Imam Abu Hanifah (رحمه الله), Musnad Abi Hanifah, the following Hadith is narrated:
"قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: إنَّ الله وملائكتَه يُصلُّون على الذين يَصِلون الصفوفَ"
(Musnad Imam al-A‘zam, p. 80)
Shaykh Khurshid ‘Alam, a teacher at Dar al-‘Ulum Deoband, explained this Hadith as follows:
① Joining the row means there should be no gap or distance between individuals.
② Shoulder to shoulder and side to side alignment should be maintained.
③ The Rightly Guided Caliphs (RA) gave great importance to the arrangement of rows during their caliphates.
④ ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan (RA) and ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA) took special care regarding the arrangement and uniformity of rows.
⑤ ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA) instructed worshippers to stand together in one line and not move forward or backward.
(Musnad Imam al-A‘zam, pp. 171–172)
From authentic Ahadith and Athar of the Companions, it is proven that:
◈ Worshippers should stand close together while following the imam.
There is no disagreement between the Hanafi scholars and the Muhaddithin on this matter.
In contemporary times, some Deobandis and Barelvis appear to differ with the earlier Hanafis and Muhaddithin on this matter:
◈ Some show irritation or displeasure at joining the rows closely.
اللهم اهدهم
ھذا ما عندي واللہ أعلم بالصواب
Source: Fatawa ‘Ilmiyyah, Vol. 1, Kitab al-Salah, p. 296
The Ruling on Row Formation in Light of Hanafi Fiqh
Question:
In Hanafi Fiqh, is there any ruling that a gap should be maintained in prayer rows? Please explain.
Answer:
Wa ‘alaykum as-salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh!
Alhamdulillah, wa-s-salatu wa-s-salamu ‘ala Rasulillah, amma ba‘d:
In Hanafi Fiqh, there is no explicit narration in which Imam Abu Hanifah (رحمه الله) or any Hanafi jurist has stated that:
◈ Worshippers must necessarily keep a gap of four inches or more between themselves in the row.
◈ If someone stands foot-to-foot, his foot should be deliberately crushed, or displeasure should be shown.
No such teaching is transmitted from Imam Abu Hanifah (رحمه الله), nor has any reliable Hanafi jurist mentioned such a thing.
Reference from al-Durr al-Mukhtar
In al-Durr al-Mukhtar (Vol. 1, p. 420) it is written:
"أي يصفهم الامام بأن يأمرهم بذلك، قال الشمني: وينبغي أن يأمرهم بأن يتراصوا ويسدوا الخلل ويسووا مناكبهم"
Translation in Ghayat al-Watar (Vol. 1, p. 296):
"And line them up, meaning the imam should arrange the worshippers’ rows. Al-Shamni said: The imam should instruct them to stand close together, close the gaps between them, and align their shoulders."
According to this statement, it is necessary for followers of the Hanafi school to stand close together during row formation, not to keep a distance.
Hadith from Musnad al-Imam al-A‘zam
In the book attributed to Imam Abu Hanifah (رحمه الله), Musnad Abi Hanifah, the following Hadith is narrated:
"قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: إنَّ الله وملائكتَه يُصلُّون على الذين يَصِلون الصفوفَ"
(Musnad Imam al-A‘zam, p. 80)
Explanation by a Teacher of Dar al-‘Ulum Deoband
Shaykh Khurshid ‘Alam, a teacher at Dar al-‘Ulum Deoband, explained this Hadith as follows:
① Joining the row means there should be no gap or distance between individuals.
② Shoulder to shoulder and side to side alignment should be maintained.
③ The Rightly Guided Caliphs (RA) gave great importance to the arrangement of rows during their caliphates.
④ ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan (RA) and ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA) took special care regarding the arrangement and uniformity of rows.
⑤ ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA) instructed worshippers to stand together in one line and not move forward or backward.
(Musnad Imam al-A‘zam, pp. 171–172)
Consensus of Muhaddithin and Hanafis
From authentic Ahadith and Athar of the Companions, it is proven that:
◈ Worshippers should stand close together while following the imam.
There is no disagreement between the Hanafi scholars and the Muhaddithin on this matter.
Differences in the Present Era
In contemporary times, some Deobandis and Barelvis appear to differ with the earlier Hanafis and Muhaddithin on this matter:
◈ Some show irritation or displeasure at joining the rows closely.
اللهم اهدهم
ھذا ما عندي واللہ أعلم بالصواب
