10/25. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 811 — Front Rows and Mercy
How the Imam should straighten the rows
Hadith About Straight Rows and the Blessing of Front Rows
Sunan an-Nasai : 811
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 811
أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الأَحْوَصِ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ طَلْحَةَ بْنِ مُصَرِّفٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَوْسَجَةَ، عَنِ الْبَرَاءِ بْنِ عَازِبٍ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَتَخَلَّلُ الصُّفُوفَ مِنْ نَاحِيَةٍ إِلَى نَاحِيَةٍ يَمْسَحُ مَنَاكِبَنَا وَصُدُورَنَا وَيَقُولُ " لاَ تَخْتَلِفُوا فَتَخْتَلِفَ قُلُوبُكُمْ " . وَكَانَ يَقُولُ " إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلاَئِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى الصُّفُوفِ الْمُتَقَدِّمَةِ " .
Al-Bara' bin 'Azib Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to go between the rows from one side to another, patting our shoulders and chests and saying: 'Do not make your rows ragged or your hearts will be filled with enmity toward one another.' And he used to say: 'Allah and His angels send Salah upon the front rows.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 811In-book reference : Book 10, Hadith 35English translation : Vol. 1, Book 10, Hadith 812
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 811
This Hadith about front rows in prayer brings together two clear teachings. Al-Bara bin Azib said that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) used to move between the rows from one side to another, patting shoulders and chests. He would tell them not to make their rows ragged, warning that their hearts could be filled with enmity toward one another. He also said that Allah and His angels send Salah upon the front rows. This hadith is often searched as Allah and angels bless front rows hadith, straight rows in prayer, and do not differ hearts hadith. The text links outer order with inner harmony, and it gives a clear honor to the rows that are in front.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) checked the rows from side to side.
- Ragged rows were linked with enmity in hearts.
- Allah and His angels send Salah upon the front rows.
- Straight rows and close order were taught before prayer.
