Hadith 1082
Jabir bin Samurah (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
عن جابر بن سمرة، رضي الله عنهما، قال: خرج علينا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال: "ألا تصفون كما تصف الملائكة عند ربها؟" فقلنا: يا رسول الله وكيف تصف الملائكة عند ربها؟ قال: "يتمون الصفوف الأُول، ويتراصون في الصف" ((رواه مسلم)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came out to us (once) and said, "Why do you not stand in rows as the angels do before their Rubb?" We asked: "O Messenger of Allah! how do the angels stand in rows before their Rubb?" He (ﷺ) replied, "They complete each row beginning with the first and filling all the gaps." [Muslim].
In plain words
The Prophet points to the angels as a model: they line up in complete, gap-free rows before their Lord. We are encouraged to order our prayer rows the same way, filling the first row and closing the spaces.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1082 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 92
Hadith 1083
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: "لو يعلم الناس ما في النداء والصف الأول، ثم لم يجدوا إلا أن يستهموا عليه لاستهموا" ((متفق عليه)) .
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "If people came to know the blessing of calling Adhan and the standing in the first row, they could do nothing but would draw lots to secure these privileges." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
Calling the adhan and standing in the front row carry such reward that, if people fully grasped it, they would compete and even draw lots to win those places. It is an invitation to value these acts of worship.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1083 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 93
Hadith 1084
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "خير صفوف الرجال أولها، وشرها آخرها، وخير صفوف النساء آخرها، وشرها أولها" . ((رواه مسلم)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "The best of the men's rows (in Salat) is the first row and the worst is the last; but the best of the woman's row is the last and the worst of their rows is the first." [Muslim].
In plain words
For men praying in congregation, the front row carries the most reward and the back the least. For women in a mixed gathering the order is reversed, the back row being best for them.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1084 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 94
Hadith 1085
Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبي سعيد الخدري، رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم رأي في أصحابه تأخرًا، فقال لهم: "تقدموا فَأتموا بي وليأتم بكم مَن بعدكم، لا يزال قوم يتأخرون حتى يؤخرهم الله" ((رواه مسلم)).
When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) perceived a tendency among his Companions to stand in the back rows, he said to them, "Come forward and be close to me and let those who come after you, follow your lead. If people continue to fall behind (i.e., in acquiring virtues), Allah puts them behind." [Muslim].
In plain words
Seeing his Companions hang back, the Prophet urged them to come forward and stay near him so others could follow. Holding back from goodness, he warns, can lead a person to be left behind.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1085 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 95
Hadith 1086
Abu Mas'ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبي مسعود رضي الله عنه قال: كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يمسح مناكبنا في الصلاة، ويقول: "استووا ولا تختلفوا فتختلف قلوبكم، ليلني منكم أولو الأحلام والنهى، ثم الذين يلونهم ثم الذين يلونهم" . ((رواه مسلم)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to gently pat our shoulders when we were standing in rows at the time of Salat and say, "Keep (the rows) straight; do not differ from each other lest your hearts should suffer from discord. Let those of you who are mature and prudent be nearer to me, and then those who are next to them." [Muslim].
In plain words
The Prophet would gently straighten the rows and explain why: crooked, uneven rows can breed discord in the heart. He also asked the most mature and steady to stand nearest him.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1086 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 96
Hadith 1087
Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أنس، رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "سووا صفوفكم، فإن تسوية الصف من تمام الصلاة". ((متفق عليه)) وفي رواية البخاري: "فإن تسوية الصفوف من إقامة الصلاة".
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Keep your rows straight (during Salat in congregation), for keeping the rows straight is part of the perfection of Salat." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
Keeping the prayer rows straight is described as part of praying well. Lining up properly is not a minor detail but belongs to the completeness of the prayer itself.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1087 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 97
Hadith 1088
Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعنه قال: أقيمت الصلاة، فأقبل علينا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بوجهه فقال: "أقيموا صفوفكم وتراصوا، فإني أراكم من وراء ظهري" ((رواه البخاري بلفظه، ومسلم بمعناه)). وفي رواية للبخاري: وكان أحدنا يلزق منكبه بمنكب صاحبه وقدمه بقدمه".
When the Iqamah had been announced, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) turned his face towards us and said: "Make your rows straight and stand close together, for I can see you from behind my back." [Al- Bukhari].
In plain words
Before the prayer began, the Prophet told the worshippers to straighten their rows and stand close, noting that he could see them even from behind. A reminder to keep the rows orderly out of sincere care, not just when watched.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1088 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 98
Hadith 1089
An-Nu'man bin Bashir (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
وعن النعمان بن بشير رضي الله عنهما، قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: "لتسون صفوفكم، أو ليخالفن الله بين وجوهكم" ((متفق عليه)) وفي رواية لمسلم: أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يسوي صفوفنا حتى كأنما يسوي بها القداح، حتى رأى أنا قد عقلنا عنه. ثم خرج يومًا فقام حتى كاد يكبر، فرأى رجلا باديا صدره من الصف، فقال "عباد الله لتسون صفوفكم، أو ليخالفن الله بين وجوهكم".
I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying, "Straighten your rows; otherwise, Allah will create dissension among you." [Al- Bukhari and Muslim]. The narration in Muslim is: An-Nu'man bin Bashir (May Allah be pleased with them) said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) directed us to keep our rows as straight as arrows. He continued stressing this until he realized that we had learnt it from him (recognized its significance). One day he came into the mosque and stood up. He was just about to say Takbir (Allah is Greater) when he noticed a man whose chest was projected from the row, so he said, "O slaves of Allah, you must straighten your rows or Allah will certainly put your faces in opposite directions."
In plain words
The Prophet stressed straightening the rows so firmly that he corrected even one man whose chest stuck out, warning that crooked rows can lead to division and hearts being turned against one another.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1089 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 99
Hadith 1090
Al-Bara' bin 'Azib (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
وعن البراء بن عازب رضي الله عنهما، قال كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يتخلل من ناحية إلى ناحية، يمسح صدورنا ومناكبنا ويقول،: "لا تختلفوا فتختلف قلوبكم" وكان يقول: "إن الله وملائكته يصلون على الصفوف الأُول" ((رواه أبو داود بإسناد حسن)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to pass between the rows from one end to the other, touching our chest and shoulders (i.e., arranging the rows) in line and saying, "Do not be out of line; otherwise your hearts will be in disagreement". He would add, "Allah and His angels invoke blessings upon the first rows." [Abu Dawud].
In plain words
Walking between the rows to align chests and shoulders, the Prophet warned that being out of line can put hearts at odds. He added that Allah and His angels send blessings on those in the front rows.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1090 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 100
Hadith 1091
Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
وعن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما، أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: "أقيموا الصفوف، وحاذوا المناكب، وسدوا الخلل، ولينوا بأيدي إخوانكم، ولا تذروا فرجات للشيطان، ومن وصل صفًا وصله الله، ومن قطع صفًا قطعه الله" . ((رواه أبو داود بإسناد صحيح)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Arrange the rows in order, stand shoulder to shoulder, close the gaps, be accommodating to your brothers, and do not leave gaps for Satan. Whoever joins up a row, he will be joined to Allah (i.e., to the Mercy of Allah); and whoever cuts off a row, he will be cut off from Allah (i.e., from His Mercy)." [Abu Dawud].
In plain words
The Prophet taught worshippers to line up neatly, stand shoulder to shoulder, close the gaps, and be considerate of one another, leaving no openings. Joining a row connects a person to Allah's mercy; cutting one off leads to being cut off from it.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1091 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 101
Hadith 1092
Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أنس، رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: "رصوا صفوفكم، وقاربوا بينها وحاذوا الأعناق فوالذي نفسي بيده إني لأرى الشيطان يدخل من خلل الصف، كأنها الحذف" ((حديث صحيح رواه أبو داود بإسناد على شرط مسلم)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Stand close together in your rows, keep nearer to one another, and put your necks in line, for by Him in Whose Hands my soul is, I see the Satan entering through the opening in the row like Al- hadhaf (i.e., a type of small black sheep found in Yemen)." [Abu Dawud].
In plain words
The Prophet urged worshippers to stand close and keep the rows tight, picturing how Satan slips through any opening left between them. Closing the gaps guards the unity of the congregation.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1092 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 102
Hadith 1093
Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: "أتموا الصف المقدم، ثم الذي يليه، فما كان من نقص فليكن في الصف المؤخر" . ((رواه أبو داود بإسناد حسن)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Fill (complete) the first row, then the one next to it; and if there is any deficiency (incompleteness), it should be in the last row." [Abu Dawud].
In plain words
The instruction is to complete the first row, then the next, and only let the last row remain short if some space must be left. Front rows are filled before later ones.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1093 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 103
Hadith 1094
'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:
وعن عائشة رضي الله عنها، قالت: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "إن الله وملائكته يصلون على ميامن الصفوف" ((رواه أبو داود بإسناد على شرط مسلم، وفيه رجل مختلف في توثيقه. )).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Allah and His angels invoke blessings upon those who are on the right side of the rows." [Abu Dawud].
In plain words
The Prophet mentioned that Allah and His angels send blessings on those standing on the right side of the rows, encouraging worshippers to value that place.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1094 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 104
Hadith 1095
Al-Bara' (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن البراء، رضي الله عنه قال: "كنا إذا صلينا خلف رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، أحببنا أن نكون عن يمينه، يقبل علينا بوجهه، فسمعته يقول: "رب قني عذابك يوم تبعث - أو تجمع- عبادك". ((رواه مسلم)).
Whenever we performed Salat behind the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), we liked to be on his right side so that his face might turn towards us (at the end of the Salat). One day, I heard Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) supplicating, "O my Rubb! Shield me from Your Torment on the Day when You will gather (or said, 'resurrect') Your slaves." [Muslim].
In plain words
The Companions liked to stand on the Prophet's right so he would face them after prayer. The hadith also preserves his humble supplication asking Allah to shield him from punishment on the Day all people are gathered.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1095 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 105
Hadith 1096
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him)reported:
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "وسطوا الإمام، وسدوا الخلل" ((رواه أبو داود)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Let the Imam stand in the middle (so that those praying behind him should be standing both on his right and his left) and close the gaps." [Abu Dawud].
In plain words
The Prophet taught that the one leading prayer should stand in the middle, with worshippers on both his right and left, and that the gaps in the rows should be closed.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1096 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 106