5/52. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 1000 — Men and Women Prayer Rows
The women’s rows
Men and Women Prayer Rows Hadith: Best Rows in Salah
Sunan Ibn Majah : 1000
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 1000
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنِ الْعَلاَءِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، وَعَنْ سُهَيْلٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " خَيْرُ صُفُوفِ النِّسَاءِ آخِرُهَا، وَشَرُّهَا أَوَّلُهَا، وَخَيْرُ صُفُوفِ الرِّجَالِ أَوَّلُهَا، وَشَرُّهَا آخِرُهَا " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘The best rows for women are the back rows, and the worst are the front rows, and the best rows for men are the front rows, and the worst are the back rows.’”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 1000In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 198English translation : Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 1000
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 1000
This men and women prayer rows hadith gives a direct statement about row placement in congregational prayer. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that the best rows for women are the back rows and the worst are the front rows, while the best rows for men are the front rows and the worst are the back rows. The safest way to explain this is to stay with the text and not add details it does not mention. The hadith about best rows in salah shows that row order matters and that men and women are addressed differently in this narration. It also connects with the wider group of hadiths about straight rows, first rows, and completing the lines.
What we learn from this hadith
- The hadith describes different row virtues for men and women.
- Men are encouraged toward the front rows in this narration.
- Women’s back rows are described as better in this narration.
- Prayer row order is treated as meaningful, not random.
