2/51. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 543 — Front Rows in Prayer
People Sitting After The Iqamah While Waiting For The Imam If He Has Not Come
Hadith About Front Rows in Prayer and Joining the Row
Sunan Abi Dawud : 543
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 543
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ سُوَيْدِ بْنِ مَنْجُوفٍ السَّدُوسِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَوْنُ بْنُ كَهْمَسٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، كَهْمَسٍ قَالَ قُمْنَا إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ بِمِنًى وَالإِمَامُ لَمْ يَخْرُجْ فَقَعَدَ بَعْضُنَا فَقَالَ لِي شَيْخٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكُوفَةِ مَا يُقْعِدُكَ قُلْتُ ابْنُ بُرَيْدَةَ . قَالَ هَذَا السُّمُودُ . فَقَالَ لِي الشَّيْخُ حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عَوْسَجَةَ عَنِ الْبَرَاءِ بْنِ عَازِبٍ قَالَ كُنَّا نَقُومُ فِي الصُّفُوفِ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم طَوِيلاً قَبْلَ أَنْ يُكَبِّرَ قَالَ وَقَالَ " إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلاَئِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ يَلُونَ الصُّفُوفَ الأُوَلَ وَمَا مِنْ خَطْوَةٍ أَحَبَّ إِلَى اللَّهِ مِنْ خَطْوَةٍ يَمْشِيهَا يَصِلُ بِهَا صَفًّا " .
Kahmas Narrated from:
We stood for praying at Mina when the Imam had not come out. Some of us sat down (and I too). An old man from Kufah said to me: Why did you down? I said : Ibn Buraidah, this is Sumud (i.e., waiting for the Imam in the standing condition).The old man then narrated a tradition from ‘Abd al-Rahman b. ‘Awaajah on the authority of al-Bara’ b. ‘Azib: We would stand in rows during the time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) for a long time before he pronounced Takbir. He further said; Allah, the Exalted and Mighty, sends blessings and the angels invoke blessings for those who are nearer to the front rows. No step is more liking to Allah than a step which one takes to join the row (of the prayer).
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 543In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 153English translation : Book 2, Hadith 543
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 543
This Hadith about front rows in prayer gives a strong message about standing in rows for salah. Al-Bara ibn Azib reported that they would stand in the rows for a long time during the time of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم before he said Takbir. The Hadith then mentions that Allah sends blessings and the angels invoke blessings for those near the front rows. It also says that no step is more loved to Allah than a step taken to join a prayer row. This makes the lesson clear: prayer rows matter. The report points to patience, order, and the value of filling the rows in congregational prayer.
What we learn from this hadith
- The companions stood in prayer rows before the Takbir was pronounced.
- Those nearer to the front rows are mentioned with blessing in the Hadith.
- Taking steps to join the prayer row is praised in this report.
