10/28. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 814 — Straight and Close Rows
The Imam encouraging (worshippers) to make the rows solid and stand close to one another
Hadith About Straight and Close Rows Before Takbir
Sunan an-Nasai : 814
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 814
أَخْبَرَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ، أَنْبَأَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، عَنْ حُمَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، - رضى الله عنه - قَالَ أَقْبَلَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِوَجْهِهِ حِينَ قَامَ إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُكَبِّرَ فَقَالَ " أَقِيمُوا صُفُوفَكُمْ وَتَرَاصُّوا فَإِنِّي أَرَاكُمْ مِنْ وَرَاءِ ظَهْرِي " .
Anas Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) turned to face us when he stood up to pray, before he said the Takbir and said: 'Make your rows straight and come close to one another, for I can see you behind my back.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 814In-book reference : Book 10, Hadith 38English translation : Vol. 1, Book 10, Hadith 815
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 814
This Hadith about straight and close rows before Takbir is narrated from Anas. When the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) stood up to pray, before saying the Takbir, he turned to face the people. He told them to make their rows straight and come close to one another. He also said that he could see them behind his back. The wording shows that row correction happened before the prayer formally began with Takbir. This makes it a clear hadith for people searching prayer rows before takbir, straighten rows and close gaps, and Prophet sees behind him in prayer. The message is simple: the congregation should not rush into prayer while the rows are loose or uneven.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) addressed the rows before saying the Takbir.
- He told the people to straighten their rows.
- He also told them to come close to one another.
- The narration connects row order with the start of congregational prayer.
