4/28. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 436b — Row Alignment
Straightening The Rows; The Virtue Of The Front Row And Then The Next; Competing With One Another For The Front Row; The People Of Virtue Should Take Precedence And Be Closest To The Imam
Hadith About Row Alignment: Straight Like Arrows
Sahih Muslim : 436b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 436b
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو خَيْثَمَةَ، عَنْ سِمَاكِ بْنِ حَرْبٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ النُّعْمَانَ بْنَ بَشِيرٍ، يَقُولُ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُسَوِّي صُفُوفَنَا حَتَّى كَأَنَّمَا يُسَوِّي بِهَا الْقِدَاحَ حَتَّى رَأَى أَنَّا قَدْ عَقَلْنَا عَنْهُ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ يَوْمًا فَقَامَ حَتَّى كَادَ يُكَبِّرُ فَرَأَى رَجُلاً بَادِيًا صَدْرُهُ مِنَ الصَّفِّ فَقَالَ " عِبَادَ اللَّهِ لَتُسَوُّنَّ صُفُوفَكُمْ أَوْ لَيُخَالِفَنَّ اللَّهُ بَيْنَ وُجُوهِكُمْ " .
An-Nu'man bin Bashir Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (may peace-be upon him) used to straighten our rows as it lie were straightening an arrow with their help until be saw that we had learnt it from him. One day he came out, stood up (for prayer) and was about to say: Allah is the Greatest, when he saw a man, whose chest was bulging out from the row, so he said: Servants of Allah, you hint straighten your rows or Allah would create dissension amongst you.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 436bIn-book reference : Book 4, Hadith 141USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 875
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 436b
This Hadith about row alignment gives a vivid scene from congregational prayer. Nu'man b. Bashir says that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم used to straighten their rows as if straightening arrows. He continued doing this until he saw that they had understood it. One day, as he was about to say Allah is the Greatest, he noticed a man whose chest was sticking out from the row. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم then warned the servants of Allah to straighten their rows or Allah would create dissension amongst them. For anyone searching for straight rows like arrows hadith, this report shows careful correction before prayer and a strong call to stand evenly.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم personally paid attention to row alignment.
- A person sticking out from the row was corrected before prayer began.
- The row was treated with the care of straightening arrows.
- The Hadith warns that neglecting rows can lead to dissension.
