Hadeeth: The Prophetic method of uniting the people.

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Unite in your rows, Allaah will unite your hearts. If you want to clear the differences between you and your brother (in Islaam), pray standing closer to him - shoulder to shoulder, ankle to ankle - and Allaah will remove the differences. When people stopped praying closer to each other, they allowed the Shaitaan to creep in between their hearts. It is like even in congregation, we pray individually.

Straightening the Rows

Chapter No. 94 from Sunan Abu Dawood.

661. عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ سَمُرَةَ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «أَلَا تَصُفُّونَ كَمَا تَصُفُّ الْمَلَائِكَةُ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ جَلَّ وَعَزَّ»، قُلْنَا وَكَيْفَ تَصُفُّ الْمَلَائِكَةُ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ؟، قَالَ: «يُتِمُّونَ الصُّفُوفَ الْمُقَدَّمَةَ وَيَتَرَاصُّونَ فِي الصَّفِّ»

 661. Jaaber bin Samurah رضي الله عنه reported that the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Why do you not stand in rows as the angels do in the presence of their Lord?” We asked: “How do the angels stand in rows in the presence of their Lord?” He replied: “They make the first row complete and keep close together in the row.” [Graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee. Also reported in Saheeh Muslim (656), Ibn Maajah (992), al-Nasa’ee (816)]

662. عن النُّعْمَانَ بْنَ بَشِيرٍ، يَقُولُ: أَقْبَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَلَى النَّاسِ بِوَجْهِهِ، فَقَالَ: «أَقِيمُوا صُفُوفَكُمْ» ثَلَاثًا، «وَاللَّهِ لَتُقِيمُنَّ صُفُوفَكُمْ أَوْ لَيُخَالِفَنَّ اللَّهُ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ» قَالَ: فَرَأَيْتُ الرَّجُلَ يَلْزَقُ مَنْكِبَهُ بِمَنْكِبِ صَاحِبِهِ وَرُكْبَتَهُ بِرُكْبَةِ صَاحِبِهِ وَكَعْبَهُ بِكَعْبِهِ

662. Al-Nu`maan bin Basheer رضي الله عنه said: “The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم paid attention to the people and said three times: “Straighten your rows in prayer; by Allaah, you must straighten your rows or Allaah will certainly put differences amongst your heart.” I then saw that every person stood [in prayer] keeping his shoulder close to that of the other, and his knee close to that of the other, and his ankle close to that of the other.” [Graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee.]

663. كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُسَوِّينَا فِي الصُّفُوفِ كَمَا يُقَوَّمُ الْقِدْحُ حَتَّى إِذَا ظَنَّ أَنْ قَدْ أَخَذْنَا ذَلِكَ عَنْهُ، وَفَقِهْنَا أَقْبَلَ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ بِوَجْهِهِ إِذَا رَجُلٌ مُنْتَبِذٌ بِصَدْرِهِ، فَقَالَ: «لَتُسَوُّنَّ صُفُوفَكُمْ أَوْ لَيُخَالِفَنَّ اللَّهُ بَيْنَ وُجُوهِكُمْ»

663. Al-Nu`maan bin Basheer رضي الله عنه said: “The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used to straighten us in the rows [of prayer] as the arrow is straightened, until he thought that we had learned it from him and understood it. One day he turned towards us, and when he saw a man whose chest projected from the row, he said: “You must straighten your rows or Allaah will certainly put your faces in contrary directions.”” [Graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee. Also reported in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (717), Saheeh Muslim (664, 665)]

664. عَنِ الْبَرَاءِ بْنِ عَازِبٍ، قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَتَخَلَّلُ الصَّفَّ مِنْ نَاحِيَةٍ إِلَى نَاحِيَةٍ يَمْسَحُ صُدُورَنَا وَمَنَاكِبَنَا وَيَقُولُ: «لَا تَخْتَلِفُوا فَتَخْتَلِفَ قُلُوبُكُمْ» وَكَانَ يَقُولُ: «إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى الصُّفُوفِ الْأُوَلِ»

664. Al-Baraa’ bin `Aazib رضي الله عنه said: “The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم used to pass through the row from one side to the other; he used to set our chests and shoulders in order, and say: “Do not be irregular.” And he would say: “Allaah and His angels bless those who are near the first rows.”” [Graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee. Also reported in al-Nasa’ee (811). And on the authority of Abu Mas`ood in Saheeh Muslim (659), Ibn Maajah (976). Tirmidhee (228), al-Nasa’ee (807, 812).]

665. عَنْ سِمَاكٍ، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ النُّعْمَانَ بْنَ بَشِيرٍ، قَالَ: «كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُسَوِّي صُفُوفَنَا إِذَا قُمْنَا لِلصَّلَاةِ فَإِذَا اسْتَوَيْنَا كَبَّرَ»

665. Al-Nu`maan bin Basheer رضي الله عنه said: “The Apostle of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم used to straighten our rows when we stood up to pray, and when we were straight, he صلى الله عليه وسلم would say the (opening) Takbeer.” [Graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee. Saheeh Muslim (665)]

666. عَنْ ابْنَ عُمَرَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، قَالَ: «أَقِيمُوا الصُّفُوفَ وَحَاذُوا بَيْنَ الْمَنَاكِبِ وَسُدُّوا الْخَلَلَ وَلِينُوا بِأَيْدِي إِخْوَانِكُمْ - لَمْ يَقُلْ عِيسَى بِأَيْدِي إِخْوَانِكُمْ - وَلَا تَذَرُوا فُرُجَاتٍ لِلشَّيْطَانِ وَمَنْ وَصَلَ صَفًّا وَصَلَهُ اللَّهُ، وَمَنْ قَطَعَ صَفًّا قَطَعَهُ اللَّهُ»

666. `Abdullaah ibn `Umar رضي الله عنهما reported that Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Set the rows in order, and stand shoulder to shoulder, close the gaps, be pliant in the hands of your brother and do not leave openings for the Devil. If anyone joins up a row, Allaah will join him up but if anyone breaks a row, Allaah will cut him off.” [Graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee. The last part is also reported in al-Nasa’ee (819)]

667. عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «رُصُّوا صُفُوفَكُمْ وَقَارِبُوا بَيْنَهَا وَحَاذُوا بِالْأَعْنَاقِ، فَوَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ إِنِّي لَأَرَى الشَّيْطَانَ يَدْخُلُ مِنْ خَلَلِ الصَّفِّ كَأَنَّهَا الْحَذَفُ»

667. Anas bin Maalik رضي الله عنه reported that Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Stand close together in your rows, bring them near one another, and stand neck to neck, for by Him in whose hand my soul is I see the Devil coming in through openings in the row just like a small black sheep.” [Also reported in al-Nasa’ee (815) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

668. عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «سَوُّوا صُفُوفَكُمْ فَإِنَّ تَسْوِيَةَ الصَّفِّ مِنْ تَمَامِ الصَّلَاةِ»

668. Anas رضي الله عنه reported that the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Straighten your rows, for the straightening of the rows is a part of perfecting the prayer.” [Graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee. Also reported in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (723), Saheeh Muslim (661)]

669. عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمِ بْنِ السَّائِبِ، صَاحِبِ الْمَقْصُورَةِ، قَالَ: صَلَّيْتُ إِلَى جَنْبِ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، يَوْمًا فَقَالَ: هَلْ تَدْرِي لِمَ صُنِعَ هَذَا الْعُودُ، فَقُلْتُ: لَا وَاللَّهِ، قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَضَعُ يَدَهُ عَلَيْهِ فَيَقُولُ: «اسْتَوُوا وَعَدِّلُوا صُفُوفَكُمْ»

669. Muhammad bin Muslim said: “One day I prayed by the side of Anas bin Maalik رضي الله عنه. He said: “Do you know why this stick is placed here?” I said: “No, by Allaah.” He said: “The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم used to put his hand upon it and say: “Keep straight and straighten your rows.”” [Graded as “Dha`eef” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

670. عَنْ أَنَسٍ، بِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ، قَالَ: إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، كَانَ إِذَا قَامَ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ أَخَذَهُ بِيَمِينِهِ ثُمَّ الْتَفَتَ، فَقَالَ: «اعْتَدِلُوا، سَوُّوا صُفُوفَكُمْ» ثُمَّ أَخَذَهُ بِيَسَارِهِ، فَقَالَ: «اعْتَدِلُوا سَوُّوا صُفُوفَكُمْ»

670. Anas bin Malik رضي الله عنه said: “When the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم stood for prayer, he took it [the stick] in his right hand and turning [to the right side] said: “Keep straight and straighten your rows.” He then took it in his left hand and said: “Keep straight and straighten your rows.” [Graded as “Dha`eef” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

671. عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «أَتِمُّوا الصَّفَّ الْمُقَدَّمَ، ثُمَّ الَّذِي يَلِيهِ، فَمَا كَانَ مِنْ نَقْصٍ فَلْيَكُنْ فِي الصَّفِّ الْمُؤَخَّرِ»

671. Anas رضي الله عنه reported that the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Complete the front row, then the one that comes next, and if there is any incompleteness, let it be in the last row.” [Graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee. Also reported by al-Nasa’ee (818)]

672. عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «خِيَارُكُمْ أَلْيَنُكُمْ مَنَاكِبَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ»

672. Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه reported that the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “The best of you are those whose shoulders are soft in prayer.” [Graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]