The congregational prayer is enjoined in the Shari’ah for the purpose of gathering, unity, and affability. This is especially achieved when the congregation stands close together in the rows, near one another and shoulder to shoulder.
It is reported in the Saheehain (Al-Bukhaari and Muslim) that the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) addressed the people and directed them to straighten their rows or Allaah would create discord within their hearts.
Abu Mas’oud (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated that the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) used to touch their shoulders when they were standing for prayer and he would say: “Make the rows straight and do not differ, lest your hearts differ.” [Muslim no. 432 and An-Nasai’ no. 807]
Also, An-Nu’maan ibn Bashir (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated that the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Straighten your rows or Allaah will alter your faces.” [Al-Bukhaari no.717]
This is a severe warning that if you do not straighten your rows in the Salaat (prayers), Allaah may change your faces to that of an animal or make them like the backs of necks, etc. [Fath Al-Baari, vol 2. p. 349]
Some of the scholars took the command of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and his severe warning against violating that command as evidence for the obligation of straightening the rows in prayer. Therefore, the most correct point of view concerning straightening the rows is that it is obligatory, and if the congregation does not do so, they will be considered sinners. This is the apparent meaning of the statement of Shaikhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (Rahimahullaah) in Al-Ikhtiyarat.
Al-Bukhaari (Rahimahullaah) mentioned a Hadeeth regarding ‘The sin of a person who does not complete the rows (i.e. who is out of alignment) for the prayer’. Anas ibn Maalik (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) said: “I arrived at Al-Madinah and was asked whether I found any change since the days of Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). I said: ‘I have not found any change except that you do not straighten the rows for the Salaat (prayers) [i.e. you do not stand in alignment in your Salaat].’” [Al-Bukhaari no. 724, Book of Adhaan, chapter 75]
Al-Haafidh Ibn Hajar (Rahimahullaah) said in his commentary for the aforementioned Hadeeth: “Al-Bukhaari understood it to be obligatory from the command in the words of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), “Straighten your rows” and from the general meaning of his words, “Pray as you have seen me praying,” and from the warning issued against failing to do that. So, in his view, on the basis of this evidence, Anas (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) was criticizing a failure to do something that is obligatory, although a criticism may also come for failing to do something that is Sunnah. Although straightening the rows is obligatory, the prayer of those who fail to do that and do not straighten their rows is still valid. That is supported by the fact that although Anas (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) criticized them, he did not tell them to repeat their prayer.” [End quote – Fath Al-Baari]
Question: Shaikh Ibn ‘Uthaimeen (Rahimahullaah) was asked: “If they did not straighten the rows would that invalidate their Salaat, because they abandoned an obligatory act?”
He (Rahimahullaah) answered: “It would probably invalidate it because they have abandoned an obligatory act, but the probability of the validity of their Salaat while being sinful is stronger. This is because straightening the rows is an obligatory act required for establishing the Salaat and not an obligatory act within the Salaat. The person will bear a sin for abandoning any obligatory act outside the Salaat, but his Salaat will not be invalidated. For example, the Adhaan. It is an obligatory act for performing the Salaat, but the Salaat will not be invalidated by leaving it.” [Sharh Al-Mumtie’ 3/12]
Some aspects of straightening the rows:
Shaikh Ibn ‘Uthaimeen (Rahimahullaah) mentioned the many aspects of straightening the rows in Sharh Al-Mumtie’:
- Straightening in the sense of standing in alignment, which is obligatory according to the most preponderant point of view
Standing in alignment means no one stands in front of anyone else. Many people think that this alignment is fulfilled by sticking one’s toes next to the toes of his companion, and this is not correct, because the length of toes vary. Some people have long feet, and some have short feet. Therefore, the scholars said that straightening the rows is fulfilled by aligning the shoulders and heels. Attention is paid to the heels because they are the foundation on which the body rests. The heel is at the bottom of the leg and the leg is the pillar of the body, so this is what matters.
Al-Bukhaari reported on the authority of An-Nu’maan ibn Bashir (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) who said: “I saw that every one of us used to put his heel next to the heel of his companion.”
Anas (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) also said: “Every one of us used to put his shoulder next to the shoulder of his companion and his foot next to the foot of his companion.” [Al-Bukhaari no. 725]
- Standing close together in the rows
This is from the perfection of the Salaat (prayer). Jabir ibn Samurah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated: “The Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) came out to us and said: “Why do you not make your rows as the angels make their rows in the presence of their Lord?” We said: ‘O Messenger of Allaah, how do the angels make their rows in the presence of their Lord?’ He (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “They complete the first rows and they keep close together in the rows.”” [Muslim no. 430]
Standing close together does not mean to overcrowd; rather the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) explained what it means by his statement, “Stand close together in your rows, bring them near one another, and stand shoulder to shoulder, for by Him in whose Hand my soul is, I see the devil come in through gaps in the rows just like a small black sheep.” [Abu Dawoud no. 667 and authenticated by Al-Albaani who graded it Saheeh]
The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) swore by Allaah, the Almighty, that when the rows became sparsely spread he could see the Shayateen, therein like small black sheep, distracting the praying people in their Salaat.
- Completing the first row and then the next
The second row should not be formed before the first row is completed and the third row should not be formed before the second row is completed and so on.
The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) recommended that when he said: “If the people know what there is (of reward) in the call (to prayer) and the first row, and they could find no other way than drawing lots, they would draw lots.” [Muslim no. 437]
- Making the rows near one another
The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Stand close together in your rows, bring them near one another, and stand shoulder to shoulder.” [Abu Dawoud no. 667]
Shaikh Ibn ‘Uthaimeen (Rahimahullaah) said in “Sharh Bulugh Al-Maram”: “This command is a recommendation of this matter, because there is no evidence quoted regarding violating this command as is mentioned in violating the standing in alignment. The distance between the rows should be enough for the second row to prostrate behind the first row with ease.”
- To draw close to the Imaam
It was narrated that ‘Abdullaah ibn Mas’oud (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) said: “The Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Let those of you who are most wise and possessing intellect be closest to me, then those who come after them.”” [Muslim no. 432]
The closer the rows are to one another and to the Imaam, the better it is. In some mosques, the distance between the Imaam and the first row is so wide that one or two other rows may fit in, and this is due to ignorance. The Sunnah is for the Imaam to be close to those who are following him in the Salaat, and the followers should be close to the Imaam, and each row should be close to the other.
- The preference of the right side of the row over the left side. However, this is not in absolute terms, because if the congregation was three, the Imaam would stand in the middle. If the right side were better absolutely it would be better for the two persons to stand on the right side of the Imaam.
The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Complete the first row then the next,” and did not say: “Complete the right side then the left side.” If both the right and left are roughly equal, such that if there were five on the right then five on the left, then the eleventh person comes, we will tell him to go to the right side because the right is better than the left. However, the left side of a closer row (to the Imaam) is better than the right side of a more distant row.
- Another aspect of straightening the rows is that the women should stand separately in rows behind the men (i.e. they should not mix with the men).
The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “The best rows for men are at the front, and the worst rows are at the back, and the best rows for women are at the back, and the worst are at the front.” [Muslim no. 440]
He (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) clearly mentioned that the farther away the rows of women go behind the rows of men, the better. This is due to the Fitnah that may be caused by their mixing with men. Worse than that is for women to pray next to men or for the rows of women to be amidst the rows of men. This is not appropriate; rather it is forbidden for fear of Fitnah.” [End quote – Sharh Al-Mumtie’ by Shaikh Ibn ‘Uthaimeen.
Sources:
Sharh Al-Mumtie’ala Zaad Al-Mustaqna’ by Shaikh Ibn ‘Uthaimeen
Fath Dhil Jalal
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