10/23. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 807 — Straight Rows and United Hearts
Who should stand immediately behind Imam and who should stand behind them
Hadith About Straight Rows and Unity in Prayer
Sunan an-Nasai : 807
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 807
أَخْبَرَنَا هَنَّادُ بْنُ السَّرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ عُمَارَةَ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي مَعْمَرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي مَسْعُودٍ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَمْسَحُ مَنَاكِبَنَا فِي الصَّلاَةِ وَيَقُولُ " لاَ تَخْتَلِفُوا فَتَخْتَلِفَ قُلُوبُكُمْ لِيَلِيَنِّي مِنْكُمْ أُولُو الأَحْلاَمِ وَالنُّهَى ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ " . قَالَ أَبُو مَسْعُودٍ فَأَنْتُمُ الْيَوْمَ أَشَدُّ اخْتِلاَفًا . قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ أَبُو مَعْمَرٍ اسْمُهُ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ سَخْبَرَةَ .
Abu Mas'ud Al-Ansiri Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to gently pat our shoulders (to make sure the row was straight) at the time of prayer, and he-would say:'Keep (the rows) straight; do not differ from one another lest your hearts would be afflicted with discord. Let those who are mature and wise stand closest to me, then those who are next to them, then those who are next to them.' Abu Mas'ud said: Today, there is much disharmony among you. ,Abu 'Abdur-Rabin (An-Nasai)said: (One of the narrators) Abu Ma'mar's name is 'Abdullah bin Sakhbarah.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 807In-book reference : Book 10, Hadith 31English translation : Vol. 1, Book 10, Hadith 808
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 807
This Hadith about straight rows in prayer shows how carefully the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) prepared the congregation before prayer. Abu Mas'ud said that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) would gently pat their shoulders to make sure the row was straight. He told them to keep the rows straight and not differ from one another, warning that such difference could affect their hearts with discord. He also instructed that mature and wise people should stand closest to him, followed by those next to them. The hadith is strong in its message: prayer rows are not just physical lines. In this text, straight rows are connected to order, discipline, and harmony among worshippers.
What we learn from this hadith
- Rows should be kept straight before prayer begins.
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) connected row disorder with discord in hearts.
- Mature and wise worshippers were told to stand closest to him.
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) corrected rows with gentle physical guidance.
