Straightening Prayer Rows
Total Hadiths 20
Prophetic Guidance on Straightening Prayer Rows in Jama'ah
The provided prophetic traditions emphasize the vital importance of straightening prayer rows during congregational prayers. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) would physically align the companions' shoulders like the straight shaft of an arrow, warning that crooked rows lead to discord in hearts or severe consequences. Furthermore, these narratives highlight a structured arrangement within the mosque: mature and wise individuals are instructed to stand directly behind the Imam to ensure proper leadership and guidance, followed by the next in line. Maintaining this precise alignment and order prevents individual distraction and safeguards the community from being misled during collective worship.
أَخْبَرَنَا سُوَيْدُ بْنُ نَصْرٍ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، عَنِ الْجُرَيْرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي نَضْرَةَ، نَحْوَهُ .
(Another chain) from Abu Nadrah (from Abu Sa'eed) with similar narration.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 796In-book reference : Book 10, Hadith 20English translation : Vol. 1, Book 10, Hadith 797
أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ سُهَيْلٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " خَيْرُ صُفُوفِ الرِّجَالِ أَوَّلُهَا وَشَرُّهَا آخِرُهَا وَخَيْرُ صُفُوفِ النِّسَاءِ آخِرُهَا وَشَرُّهَا أَوَّلُهَا " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'The best rows for men are the front rows and the worst are the last, and the best rows for women are the back rows and the worst are those in the front.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 820In-book reference : Book 10, Hadith 44English translation : Vol. 1, Book 10, Hadith 821
أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا نُوحٌ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ قَيْسٍ - عَنِ ابْنِ مَالِكٍ، - وَهُوَ عَمْرٌو - عَنْ أَبِي الْجَوْزَاءِ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ كَانَتِ امْرَأَةٌ تُصَلِّي خَلْفَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَسْنَاءُ مِنْ أَحْسَنِ النَّاسِ - قَالَ - فَكَانَ بَعْضُ الْقَوْمِ يَتَقَدَّمُ فِي الصَّفِّ الأَوَّلِ لِئَلاَّ يَرَاهَا وَيَسْتَأْخِرُ بَعْضُهُمْ حَتَّى يَكُونَ فِي الصَّفِّ الْمُؤَخَّرِ فَإِذَا رَكَعَ نَظَرَ مِنْ تَحْتِ إِبْطِهِ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ { وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَقْدِمِينَ مِنْكُمْ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَأْخِرِينَ } .
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
There was a woman who used to pray behind the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) who was beautiful, one of the most beautiful of people. Some of the people used to go to the front row to avoid seeing her, and some used to go to the back row so that when they bowed they could see her from beneath their armpits. Then Allah revealed the words: 'To Us are known those of you who hasten forward and those who lag behind.
[1] Al-Hijr 15:24.Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 870In-book reference : Book 10, Hadith 94English translation : Vol. 1, Book 10, Hadith 871
أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ نَافِعٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا بَهْزُ بْنُ أَسَدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَقُولُ " اسْتَوُوا اسْتَوُوا اسْتَوُوا فَوَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ إِنِّي لأَرَاكُمْ مِنْ خَلْفِي كَمَا أَرَاكُمْ مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَىَّ " .
Anas Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) used to say: "Make your rows straight, make your rows straight, make your rows straight. By the One in Whose Hand is my soul! I can see you behind me as I can see you in front of me."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 813In-book reference : Book 10, Hadith 37English translation : Vol. 1, Book 10, Hadith 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
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْمُبَارَكِ الْمُخَرِّمِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو هِشَامٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبَانُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا قَتَادَةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَنَسٌ، أَنَّ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " رَاصُّوا صُفُوفَكُمْ وَقَارِبُوا بَيْنَهَا وَحَاذُوا بِالأَعْنَاقِ فَوَالَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ إِنِّي لأَرَى الشَّيَاطِينَ تَدْخُلُ مِنْ خَلَلِ الصَّفِّ كَأَنَّهَا الْحَذَفُ " .
Anas Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Make your rows solid and close together, and keep your necks in line. By the One in Whose Hand is the soul of Muhammad! I can see the shaitan entering through the gaps in the rows as if they are small sheep."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 815In-book reference : Book 10, Hadith 39English translation : Vol. 1, Book 10, Hadith 816
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
أَنْبَأَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، عَنْ حُمَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، 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 Takbir, and said: 'Make your rows straight and fill the gaps, for I can see you from behind my back.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 845In-book reference : Book 10, Hadith 69English translation : Vol. 1, Book 10, Hadith 846
أَخْبَرَنَا عِيسَى بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ مَثْرُودٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ وَهْبٍ، عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الزَّاهِرِيَّةِ، عَنْ كَثِيرِ بْنِ مُرَّةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَنْ وَصَلَ صَفًّا وَصَلَهُ اللَّهُ وَمَنْ قَطَعَ صَفًّا قَطَعَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ " .
`Abdullah bin `Umar Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)said: "Whoever completes a row, may Allah be generous to him, and whoever cuts a row, may Allah cut him off."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 819In-book reference : Book 10, Hadith 43English translation : Vol. 1, Book 10, Hadith 820
أَخْبَرَنَا سُوَيْدُ بْنُ نَصْرٍ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، عَنْ مِسْعَرٍ، عَنْ ثَابِتِ بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ الْبَرَاءِ، عَنِ الْبَرَاءِ، قَالَ كُنَّا إِذَا صَلَّيْنَا خَلْفَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَحْبَبْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ .
Al-Bara Narrated from:
When we prayed behind the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) I liked to be to his right.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 822In-book reference : Book 10, Hadith 46English translation : Vol. 1, Book 10, Hadith 823
