10/30. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 818 — Complete the First Row
The last row
Hadith About Completing the First Row in Salah
Sunan an-Nasai : 818
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 818
أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ مَسْعُودٍ، عَنْ خَالِدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدٌ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " أَتِمُّوا الصَّفَّ الأَوَّلَ ثُمَّ الَّذِي يَلِيهِ وَإِنْ كَانَ نَقْصٌ فَلْيَكُنْ فِي الصَّفِّ الْمُؤَخَّرِ " .
Anas Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Complete the first row, then the one behind it, and if any row is to be left incomplete let it be the last row."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 818In-book reference : Book 10, Hadith 42English translation : Vol. 1, Book 10, Hadith 819
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 818
This Hadith about completing the first row in salah is narrated from Anas. The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said to complete the first row, then the row behind it. If any row must be incomplete, then the shortage should be in the last row. The instruction is very practical. It answers how worshippers should fill the space when rows are forming. Instead of leaving gaps in front and starting rows behind, the front row should be completed first. This hadith is often searched as complete the first row hadith, incomplete last row in prayer, and prayer row order in Islam. The text directly teaches priority in row formation: first row first, then the next, with any lack left at the back.
What we learn from this hadith
- The first row should be completed before starting or filling the next.
- The row behind it should be completed after the first.
- If a row remains incomplete, it should be the last row.
- The narration gives a clear order for forming prayer rows.
