10/26. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 812 — Keep Rows Straight
What the Imam should say regarding straightening the rows when he comes forward
Hadith About Keeping Rows Straight in Salah
Sunan an-Nasai : 812
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 812
أَخْبَرَنَا بِشْرُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ الْعَسْكَرِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا غُنْدَرٌ، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ عُمَارَةَ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي مَعْمَرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي مَسْعُودٍ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَمْسَحُ عَوَاتِقَنَا وَيَقُولُ " اسْتَوُوا وَلاَ تَخْتَلِفُوا فَتَخْتَلِفَ قُلُوبُكُمْ وَلْيَلِيَنِّي مِنْكُمْ أُولُو الأَحْلاَمِ وَالنُّهَى ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ " .
Abu Mas'ad Al-Ansari 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 should suffer from 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.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 812In-book reference : Book 10, Hadith 36English translation : Vol. 1, Book 10, Hadith 813
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 812
This Hadith about keeping rows straight in salah is narrated from Abu Mas'ad Al-Ansari. He said that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) used to gently pat their shoulders and say that they should stand straight and not differ, lest their hearts suffer from discord. He also said that those who were mature and wise should stand closest to him, then those next to them, then those next to them. The wording is direct and practical. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) did not leave the row formation to guesswork. He corrected the shoulders and gave spoken guidance. This hadith is a strong search match for straight rows in prayer, mature and wise closest to imam, and hadith about unity in salah.
What we learn from this hadith
- Worshippers were told to stand straight in rows.
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) linked row disorder with discord in hearts.
- Mature and wise people were instructed to stand nearest to him.
- Physical row correction was part of preparing for congregational prayer.
